A 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;

Whereas 51 percent of student parents are students of color, particularly female students of color, with mothers representing—

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 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