III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 839 

Designating September 2024 as ‘‘National Student Parent Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 

Mr. MORAN (for himself and Mr. CARPER) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 2024 as ‘‘National Student Parent 

Month’’. 

Whereas student parents are individuals who have children 

and who attend postsecondary educational institutions; 

Whereas student parents make up roughly 1⁄5 of the postsecondary student population, totaling nearly 4,000,000 individuals; 

Whereas 70 percent of student parents are women, and 62 

percent of student mothers are single parents; 

Whereas 54 percent of single mothers who are enrolled at an 

institution of higher education work 20 hours or more 

per week and 43 percent work 30 hours or more per 

week, which requires those individuals to balance school, 

work, and caring for their dependents; 


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•SRES 839 ATS 

Whereas 51 percent of student parents are students of color, 

particularly female students of color, with mothers representing— 

(1) 40 percent of Black postsecondary students; 

(2) 36 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native postsecondary students; 

(3) 35 percent of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander postsecondary students; and 

(4) 26 percent of Hispanic postsecondary students; 

Whereas 47 percent of student parents are military-connected 

students; 

Whereas approximately 813 surviving military spouses are 

using education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for surviving dependents; 

Whereas 84 percent of military spouses have some college 

education or credential and, on average, make 25 percent 

less than their civilian counterparts; 

Whereas 42 percent of student parents attend community colleges and 30 percent attend public or private nonprofit 

4-year institutions of higher education; 

Whereas the cohort of single mothers currently enrolled in 

higher education will save approximately 

$19,900,000,000 in public assistance spending; 

Whereas 44 percent of student parents report food insecurity, 

and 60 percent report housing insecurity; 

Whereas 2⁄3 of student parents live at or near the poverty line 

and 52 percent of student parents are Federal Pell Grant 

recipients; 

Whereas, on average, student parents have higher grade point 

averages than their non-parenting peers, but student parVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:43 Sep 24, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR839.ATS SR839

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•SRES 839 ATS 

ents are 10 times less likely to complete a bachelor’s degree within 5 years than students without children; 

Whereas a low-income student parent who earns a degree or 

credential boosts the income of that individual and the 

earning potential of the children of that individual when 

those children become adults; and 

Whereas student parents are uniquely motivated to excel in 

their courses of study but often face challenges, including 

lack of affordable child care and balancing work responsibilities while attending postsecondary educational institutions: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses support for the contributions and 

3 achievements of student parents in seeking and com4 pleting a postsecondary education; and 

5 (2) designates September 2024 as ‘‘National 

6 Student Parent Month’’. 

Æ 


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