The New Jersey state Senate Higher Education Committee approved two bills aimed at expanding academic protections for student parents attending colleges and universities in the state, the second half of a four-bill legislative package sponsored by Sen. Bob Singer (R-Lakewood).

Both bills seek to ensure that students raising children are not academically penalized or discriminated against while pursuing higher education.

“Student parents face unique challenges and shouldn’t be penalized academically or discriminated against while trying to receive a higher education,” Singer said in a statement. “This legislative package ensures that student parents are provided reasonable accommodations to achieve academic success while raising a family.”

Lakewood records more childbirths each year than any other municipality in the state.

One bill, known as the Student-Parent Protection Act, would extend existing protections for pregnant students to include parenting students. Current law prohibits colleges and universities from requiring students to take a leave of absence, withdraw from classes or limit their studies because of pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions. The bill would apply those same safeguards to students who are parents.

The second measure would require every college and university in the state to designate a staff member to serve as a student-parent liaison. The liaison would be responsible for ensuring student parents are aware of and can access available academic services and accommodations.

Two additional bills in Singer’s four-bill package were approved by the committee earlier this year. One would grant student parents priority course registration and the other would require institutions to publish an annual report detailing the number of undergraduate student parents enrolled, with the goal of improving data collection and understanding of their academic outcomes.