SSB 6227
In CommitteeSenate
Parenting student data
Formalizing data collection protocols to support parenting students.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill creates a formal system for Washington’s public colleges and universities to collect consistent data on students who are parents. The goal is to help state leaders better understand the needs of parenting students and design effective support programs—like child care and financial aid—by making this population visible in education planning and policy.
- Requires the Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop formal, statewide protocols for identifying and tracking students who are parents across public colleges and universities.
- Mandates that participating institutions report parenting student data annually to the Higher Education Coordinating Board, ideally during enrollment or through annual updates.
- Establishes a work group with representatives from public four-year institutions, community and technical colleges, student advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to recommend how to accurately identify parenting students and improve support practices.
- Requires the work group to submit recommendations on campus and community partnerships to support parenting students to the legislature by December 1, 2026.
- Authorizes the Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules to carry out the law.
Who is affected
- Parenting students — Students who are parents (e.g., mothers, fathers, guardians raising children) enrolled in Washington’s public colleges and universities may benefit from improved support services and policy decisions based on better data about their experiences and needs.
- Public higher education institutions — Public two-year and four-year colleges and universities in Washington will be required to collect and report data on parenting students, and may need to adjust enrollment processes or support systems to align with new protocols.
- State government (including the Higher Education Coordinating Board) — State agencies and policymakers will gain access to standardized data to inform budgeting, program design, and equity initiatives aimed at supporting student parents.
- Families of parenting students — Families of parenting students—especially young children—may benefit indirectly from improved access to child care, food, housing, and financial aid supports as policies evolve based on better data.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
By establishing standardized data collection on parenting students, the bill will enable evidence-based policy decisions and targeted support programs (e.g., childcare subsidies, financial aid, academic advising), directly improving access and outcomes for low-income and first-generation student parents—groups historically underserved in higher education.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (findings), Sec. 2(1)The work group’s mandate to develop campus and community partnership recommendations by December 2026 creates a pathway to expand integrated support services (e.g., SNAP/WIC coordination, on-campus childcare), which disproportionately benefit parenting students from marginalized communities who face structural barriers to persistence.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (findings), Sec. 2(2)(c)Improved data on parenting students’ challenges—including housing instability, food insecurity, and mental health—can inform state-level interventions that reduce long-term social service dependency and improve intergenerational outcomes for children of student parents.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (findings), Sec. 2(1)By aiming to increase postsecondary completion rates among parenting students, the bill supports workforce development goals—particularly in high-demand fields—potentially expanding the skilled labor pool and reducing employer recruitment challenges over time.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (findings)Better data on parenting students may uncover gaps in access to reproductive health, prenatal care, or pediatric services on or near campuses, enabling targeted health outreach programs that benefit low-income families.
HealthcareLean peopleRef: Sec. 1 (findings), Sec. 2(3)
Potential Concerns (1)
The bill requires public higher education institutions to collect and report parenting student data, which may increase administrative burdens on institutional staff, especially at community and technical colleges with limited resources.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(2)(a)
Who Is Most Affected
Parenting students—especially those who are low-income, young, or people of color—stand to gain significantly from improved access to childcare, financial aid, and academic support. Data visibility helps ensure their needs are prioritized in funding and program design.
Institutions will face modest administrative costs to adopt new data protocols, but may benefit from increased state funding eligibility and improved retention/completion metrics tied to targeted support programs.
State agencies (e.g., Higher Education Coordinating Board, OSPI, DSHS) gain actionable data to refine equity-focused budget requests and cross-sector collaboration, but must allocate staff time to implement and monitor protocols.
Children of parenting students benefit indirectly from expanded childcare access, reduced housing instability, and improved parental academic success—key predictors of child well-being and long-term economic mobility.
Childcare providers—especially those serving college communities—may see increased demand and new partnership opportunities with institutions, though they are not directly funded or mandated under this bill.