A resolution designating September 2023 as "National Student Parent Month".

Bill: 118-sres-374
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2023-09-27
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Child care and development

Commemorative events and holidays

Congressional tributes

Family relationships

Higher education
Latest action: action_date: 2023-09-27
text: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: S4717; text: CR S4726)

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-09-27
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution designates September 2023 as National Student Parent Month.</p>

action_date: 2023-09-27
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p>This resolution designates September 2023 as National Student Parent Month.</p>

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 374 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 27 (legislative day, September 22), 2023 Mr. Moran (for himself and Mr. Carper ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating September 2023 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; 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 794 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 53 percent of student parents report food insecurity, and 68 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 parents 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

That the Senate— (1) expresses support for the contributions and achievements of student parents in seeking and completing a postsecondary education; and (2) designates September 2023 as National Student Parent Month .