On September 30, 2026, the last day of Student Parent Month, Governor Newsom signed AB 1784 into law, adopting new protections for pregnant and parenting students. With our support, California has now enshrined rights to parental leave, pregnancy accommodations, and anti-discrimination protections for all postsecondary students.
California has at least 300,000 undergraduate student parents,1 and one in five undergraduates2 nationwide are parents—with hundreds of thousands more3 becoming pregnant each year. “Without strong policies to support them, pregnant and parenting undergrads are often forced to withdraw, losing their education along with their health insurance, their housing, and their children’s stability,” said Jessica Lee, Co-Director of WorkLife Law and co-founder of WorkLife Law’s Pregnant Scholar initiative.
“This new law will ensure no California college student will have to choose between their family and their education.”
The law also explicitly names WorkLife Law’s Pregnant Scholar initiative as a resource that colleges and universities can turn to for guidance as they put these protections into practice. The Pregnant Scholar has worked on these issues for more than a decade, and we look forward to supporting California institutions through implementation.
The new California protections come at a time when there is increasing interest in protecting pregnant and parenting students across the states given what’s happening in Washington DC. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has set aside its 2024 Title IX Rule, which had enshrined many of the rights now provided in California’s AB 1784. The Department is being dismantled, and enforcement has dipped to record lows, with ED reaching no resolutions in any cases of gender harassment, sexual assault, or pregnancy/parenting discrimination during this administration. “I expect California will be the first of many more states to comprehensively protect pregnant and parenting students in light of the federal retreat from serving this important population,” said Lee.
Here’s what California’s new law will do:
Protect students from discrimination. Colleges and universities can no longer discriminate against undergraduates because they are pregnant or parenting.
Guarantee pregnancy-related accommodations for undergraduates. Pregnant students may need simple changes to stay healthy in school, like a different seat, permission to eat or drink in class, a parking permit, or a way to avoid toxic chemicals in labs. Federal law requires accommodations but offers little detail; the new California law gives undergraduates a clear right and spells out how schools should provide them.
Extend leave rights to undergraduate parents. Students can now keep their place in school while recovering from childbirth or being present for their child’s first days.
Help students and faculty find support. Institutions must inform students of their rights, designate a liaison to coordinate compliance, and put their policies in writing, so that problems can be prevented before they start and addressed quickly when they arise.
WorkLife Law worked hard alongside advocates across California to pass this law. Thank you to bill author Assembly Member Pellerin; co-authors Assembly Member Fong, Senator Cervantes, and Senator Gonzalez; and every supporter who helped make this possible.
Learn more about the work of the Pregnant Scholar initiative and how we can help as the new law goes into effect in 2027.
1. https://castudentparentalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Alliance-Student-Parent-Report-Final.pdf
2. https://studentparentaction.org/resources/infographic-undergraduate-student-parents
3. https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/new-title-ix-regulations-will-help-more-180000-pregnant-students-every-semester