The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act requires colleges and universities to inform students of their rights, available accommodations, and support resources regarding pregnancy and parenting.
Ashley Moody
Senator
FL
The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act requires colleges and universities to provide students with clear information regarding their rights, available accommodations, and support resources for carrying a pregnancy to term. Institutions must distribute this information through various channels, including student handbooks, orientations, and official websites, to ensure students are aware of their protections under Title IX.
Pregnant Students’ Rights Act Mandates Annual Resource Notifications and Title IX Guidance at All Colleges
Navigating college is hard enough without the added complexity of a pregnancy. The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act aims to clear the fog by requiring institutions of higher education to proactively disclose the support systems available to students who choose to carry a baby to term. Under this bill, schools must provide a comprehensive list of on-campus and community resources, ranging from medical care to parenting support, ensuring that a student’s education doesn't have to hit a dead end because of a life change. It also requires clear instructions on how to file a Title IX complaint if a student feels they’ve been discriminated against for their choice to remain pregnant, providing a formal path for accountability.
The Campus Communication Plan
This isn't just a flyer buried in a basement office; the bill mandates a multi-channel approach to ensure students actually see this information. Schools would be required to send an annual email to every enrolled student, include the details in student handbooks, and present them during orientation sessions. For the digital native, this means the info will be readily available on the school’s public website. Whether you are a student-athlete or a night-shift worker taking classes part-time, the goal is to make these resources as visible as the campus map. By placing this information in health and counseling centers, the bill ensures that when a student is seeking help, the roadmap for their rights is already there.
Clear Rules for Schools
The bill is quite specific about what schools must do, which helps prevent bureaucratic guesswork. It modifies Section 485 of the Higher Education Act to ensure that these disclosures are a standard part of institutional operations. Importantly, the legislation includes a boundary: the Secretary of Education cannot use this bill to force schools to provide additional information or create new rights beyond what is explicitly written. This keeps the focus strictly on informing students about existing accommodations that allow them to continue their studies while pregnant or parenting. For a student worried about losing their scholarship or falling behind in credits, having these rights in writing—delivered straight to their inbox—provides a layer of security in an otherwise stressful time.