Parenting student data

AN ACT Relating to formalizing data collection protocols to 1
support parenting students; adding a new section to chapter 28B.77 2
RCW; and creating a new section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that Washington 5
lacks a formal, consistent system to identify or track parenting 6
students across institutions of higher education. As a result, 7
parenting students are often invisible in policy development, 8
budgeting decisions, and student support planning, limiting the 9
ability of institutions and the state to understand their needs, 10
measure outcomes, or design effective supports.11
The legislature further finds that parenting students represent a 12
significant portion of the postsecondary population and face distinct 13
barriers to enrollment, persistence, and completion. Without reliable 14
data, institutions cannot consistently identify student parents, 15
evaluate access to existing resources, or coordinate supports related 16
to child care, basic needs, and financial aid. 17
The intent of this act is to establish consistent, statewide data 18
collection protocols to better understand the experiences and 19
outcomes of parenting students. By improving data quality and 20
coordination, the legislature seeks to support evidence-based 21
S-3963.1
SENATE BILL 6227
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators C. Wilson, Nobles, Conway, Hasegawa, and Lovick
Read first time 01/20/26. Referred to Committee on Higher Education
& Workforce Development.
p. 1 SB 6227
policymaking, advance educational equity, and strengthen Washington's 1
future workforce by improving postsecondary completion for student 2
parents and their families. 3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28B.77 4
RCW to read as follows: 5
(1) The council shall work with institutions of higher education, 6
as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, to develop formal data collection 7
protocols to identify parenting students. Data collection may occur 8
where it is the most feasible, cost-effective, and accurate, such as 9
during enrollment, and should be updated through other annual means. 10
Participating institutions of higher education shall send their data 11
to the council annually. 12
(2)(a) The council shall convene a work group to provide 13
recommendations for identifying students' parenting status to inform 14
the implementation of subsection (1) of this section.15
(b) The work group must include members from the following 16
entities: 17
(i) An organization representing the presidents of the public 18
four-year institutions; 19
(ii) The state board of community and technical colleges;20
(iii) The Washington student association or an organization that 21
coordinates advocacy for students from public institutions of higher 22
education; 23
(iv) Communities for our colleges; and 24
(v) Other entities as necessary and appropriate with relevant 25
experience in educational persistence and support for parenting 26
students. 27
(c) The work group shall develop recommendations of campus and 28
community partnership practices supportive of parenting students 29
pursuing postsecondary education and submit them to the appropriate 30
committees of the legislature by December 1, 2026, in accordance with 31
RCW 43.01.036. 32
(3) The council may adopt rules to implement this section.33
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p. 2 SB 6227