H.R. 3985: Helping Student Parents Succeed Act

This bill, known as the Helping Student Parents Succeed Act, aims to enhance the support and resources available to expectant and parenting students in higher education. It proposes amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965, specifically focusing on policies regarding these students. Here's a breakdown of what the bill entails:

Policy Development

Institutions of higher education that participate in federal education programs would be required to:

• Develop and publicly share a comprehensive statement of their policy regarding expectant and parenting students.
• Outline the institution's policies on leave of absence related to pregnancy, childbirth, and adoption, including timeframes for making up missed coursework.

Information Accessibility

Colleges and universities must ensure that the following information is readily available, specifically targeted at expectant and parenting students:

• Details regarding lactation accommodations on campus.
• An overview of the process for requesting accommodations, including for pregnancy-related conditions and parental responsibilities.
• Clarification about financial aid eligibility, featuring:
• Dependent care allowances for parenting students.
• Changes in dependency status after having a child.
• Emergency financial aid programs and their eligibility criteria.
• The potential impacts of leaves of absence on academic progress and financial aid eligibility.
• Information on available support services such as academic advising, childcare assistance, housing options, food aid programs, healthcare services, and transportation benefits.
• Details on on-campus housing options that accommodate students with dependents.
• Information on the legal rights and protections for expectant and parenting students according to federal and state laws.
• Procedures for addressing complaints under Title IX regarding discrimination based on pregnancy or related conditions.
• Contact information for relevant offices and personnel that provide assistance to expectant and parenting students.

Goals of the Bill

The overarching aim of this legislation is to create a supportive and informative environment for students who are parents or expecting children, enabling them to successfully navigate their education while managing their family responsibilities. By requiring institutions to articulate and disseminate these policies and resources, the bill seeks to address gaps in support for a demographic that often faces unique challenges in higher education settings.

Relevant Companies

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