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Bill

S 3977

Requires institution of higher education to collect certain information concerning student parents.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bob Singer

New Jersey would require colleges to collect data on student parents and their dependents to identify support needs and inform higher education policy.

Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
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Bill Summary · S 3977

Legislative bill overview

S 3977 requires New Jersey colleges and universities to collect and maintain data on students who are parents, including information about their parental status, number of dependents, and potentially related support needs. The bill aims to create a comprehensive statewide database of student-parent demographics at higher education institutions.

Why is this important

Student parents face unique challenges balancing education with childcare responsibilities, yet higher education institutions often lack systematic data on this population. Collecting this information could help policymakers and institutions identify gaps in support services, allocate resources more effectively, and design targeted interventions like childcare assistance or flexible scheduling. Better data may reveal whether student parents face barriers to completion or persistence that differ from non-parent students.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy concerns: Requiring institutions to collect and potentially share sensitive family status information raises questions about data security, consent, and whether this information could be misused
  • Institutional burden and cost: Implementing new data collection and reporting systems across all higher education institutions requires resources, staff training, and ongoing compliance monitoring
  • Data usage unclear: The bill doesn't explicitly define how collected data will be used, stored, accessed by other agencies, or what privacy protections exist, creating uncertainty about actual applications

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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