A resolution expressing support for the contributions and achievements of student parents in seeking and completing a postsecondary education and designating September 2025 as "National Student Parent Month".
This Senate resolution expresses formal recognition of the contributions and achievements of student parents—those who have children while pursuing postsecondary education—and designates September 2025 as “National Student Parent Month.” The bill is a non-binding, symbolic statement of support intended to raise awareness about the experiences and challenges of student parents, highlight their impact, and encourage continued attention from policymakers, educators, and the public. It does not create new programs or authorize funding, but it frames student parents as a deserving group for policy consideration and institutional support. The resolution presents a broad set of statistics to illustrate the scope and disparities affecting student parents, including high percentages of parental students among the postsecondary population, economic and food/housing insecurity, time burdens from work, and the prevalence of military-connected status. It emphasizes that many student parents succeed academically despite these barriers and that supporting them can have positive long-term effects on earnings and family well-being.
Key Points
- 1The bill is a non-binding Senate resolution that expresses support for student parents’ contributions and achievements in pursuing and completing postsecondary education.
- 2It designates September 2025 as “National Student Parent Month” to raise awareness and celebrate student parents.
- 3It uses numerous “Whereas” statements to illustrate the scope and challenges of student parents, including:
- 4- Student parents make up about 1/5 of the postsecondary student population (roughly 3.14 million).
- 5- Many student parents face food and housing insecurity, juggle significant work hours, and are disproportionately first-generation or students of color.
- 6- A substantial share are military-connected, including spouses and veterans, with related educational benefit dynamics.
- 7- The majority attend community colleges, with a notable portion relying on Pell Grants and facing basic needs insecurity.
- 8- Despite barriers, student parents often have high GPA levels but face higher risks of not completing a bachelor’s degree within five years, influenced by childcare needs and other responsibilities.
- 9The resolution does not authorize funding or create new programs; its effect is largely to affirm support and encourage consideration of policies and practices that aid student parents.