Bill > SB420

This bill requires the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) to collect student-level data from all public colleges and universities in the state regarding students' parental status, including whether they are parents or legal guardians, the ages of their children, and the nature of their caregiving responsibilities, such as being a single parent or sharing responsibilities. Public institutions will integrate these questions into their existing demographic data collection forms and provide the collected information to MHEC. MHEC will then compile and summarize this data into a report to be submitted to specific legislative committees by September 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, to better understand and support pregnant and parenting students within higher education. This initiative aims to inform policy and resource allocation for this student population, ensuring their academic success while managing family responsibilities.