The State of Pregnant and Parenting Students in California: Fostering a Sense of Belonging at CSUs

Thursday, December 12, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PST
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Student parents are a vital yet often overlooked population in our higher education systems. Generation Hope found that nationally, 40% of parenting students experience isolation and disconnection from their college community, while 20% of parenting students feel unwelcome on campus. While these statistics highlight the challenges faced by student parents, more targeted information is needed to improve support in California. 

Recognizing the need, EdTrust-West conducted their “Sense of Belonging” survey, which provided deeper insights into the student-parent experience throughout the California State University (CSU) system. The findings revealed important trends in the perceived sense of belonging on CSU campuses and the level of support students experience.

Join us on December 12, 2024, as we dive into the key findings and discuss actionable strategies to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for pregnant an parenting students in the CSU system. Designed for practitioners, administrators, and advocates, the webinar will provide data-driven insights and practical solutions to better serve students in California. 

Featuring:

Isaac Alferos
The Education Trust-West, Research and Data Analyst

Isaac Alferos (he/they) is a Research and Data Analyst at EdTrust-West, focusing on expanding college access and success for California’s students of color. Alferos uses his experience as a researcher, organizer, and a child of a parenting student to inform his commitment to expanding college access and support for parenting students across the state.

Melissa Valenzuela-Stookey
The Education Trust-West, Director of P-16 Research

As the Director of P-16 Research, Melissa Valenzuela-Stookey leads the design and execution of EdTrust-West’s equity-focused research agenda, spanning from transitional kindergarten through postsecondary completion. Valenzuela-Stookey is a proud graduate of the Miami-Dade County public school system and has contributed to research, policy design, and evaluation in roles at the New York City Department of Education and Advance Illinois. Her work has a particular focus on equitable school finance reform and strengthening transitions between early learning systems, public schools, and higher education institutions. 

Maya Valree
The Education Trust-West, Senior Policy Analyst

Maya Valree is a Senior Policy Analyst at EdTrust-West, where she leads initiatives to support the academic success and well-being of over 400,000 student parents in California and co-leads The California Alliance for Student Parent Success. Before joining the EdTrust-West team, Valree gained extensive experience in TK-12 and higher education, serving as an English teacher in South Los Angeles, a graduate student coordinator for Cal Poly’s Students with Dependents program, and a research assistant on Dr. Tina Cheuk’s #StudentParentJoy campaign.

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