The data will be used to inform resources and programming for students with children.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger recently signed off on a measure that will require Virginia's public colleges and universities to ask students whether they're also parents — joining a handful of states that have similar mandates.

Students won't be required to tell colleges they're parents. They will instead have the option to self-report the information, with the idea that it can help colleges better serve them.

Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling (D–Henrico) introduced the legislation, saying parenting students are often "falling through the cracks when it comes to higher education," reports VPM.