Parenting Students
Overview
House Bill (HB) 1361 and Senate Bills (SB) 412 and 459, from the 88th Texas Legislature, address several topics regarding parenting and pregnant students, including protections, early registration access (when available), and resources for those students, as well as reporting requirements for public institutions.
The Role of These Bills in Higher Education
HB 1361 amends the Texas Education Code to require each public institution of higher education to designate at least one employee to act as a liaison officer for current or incoming students at the institution who are the parent or guardian of a child younger than 18 years of age. The liaison officer assists in coordinating college readiness and student success efforts for this population and is required to provide information to such students regarding support services and other resources available to students at the institution, including the following:
- Resources to access public benefits programs and medical and behavioral health coverage and
services - Parenting and child care resources
- Employment assistance
- Transportation assistance
- Student academic success strategies
- Any other resources developed by the institution to assist the students
Not later than May 1 of each academic year, institutions of higher education are required to submit a report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) that contains specific information (e.g, number, demographic and academic data, enrollment status) regarding students enrolled at the institution for the current academic year who are the parent or guardian of a child younger than 18 years of age. Senate Bill 412 requires institutions to provide pregnancy-related accommodations, and Senate Bill 459 requires that if an institution provides early registration for any group of students, early registration must also be provided for parenting students.
Parenting and Pregnant Students Rules
Texas Education Code, Chapter 51, Subchapter Z, Section 51.9357 and Sections 51.982-51.983, requires the THECB to adopt rules relating to the protection of pregnant and parenting students, resources for such students, and reporting requirements.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has adopted rules for administering HB 1361, SB 412, and SB 459 in Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter X, Sections 4.370-4.376.
Temporary Rules: THECB Board Approval Rules, Agenda Item X-I(7) (Official Texas Register link is forthcoming and available immediately after publishing.)
Parenting Data Collection Surveys
Contact
Inquiries regarding parenting or pregnant students should be sent to Waylon Metoyer, M.Ed., Director, Student Success.
