On August 6, 2020 the U.S. Department of Education opened the FY 2020 application window for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant program. The deadline for applications is September 8, 2020. The CCAMPIS program provides important funding for low-income student parents to receive financial assistance for child care. This year’s grants will provide community colleges flexibility to use funds to support students access either campus- or community-based child care programs and allow other options, including for eligible age ranges and care schedules.  

Colleges can apply through the Federal Register here. 

Below is an expert from a Now article previously published in 2018, describing the needs of student parents and the benefits of the CCAMPIS program. 

Access to affordable child care is essential for many community college students with children of their own. In 2016, over 25% of community college students had their own dependent children--many 6 years old or younger likely to need full-time care from a parent or other caretaker. The responsibilities of child care can be especially time consuming for students who are single parents. According to researchers from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), single mothers who attend college full-time also spend 10 hours per day on child care and housework. Adding to the burden, the average cost for an infant to attend a child care center tops $10,000 per year—a price out of reach for many low-income parents.

To help support low-income students with children balance school and family responsibilities, the U.S. Department of Education’s Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program provides colleges with funds to run campus-based child care services or offer students grants towards off-campus options. For example, the CCAMPIS program at Mount Wachusett Community College in Wadner, Massachusetts provides aid to students based on their expected family contribution to offset the cost of child care, either at an on-campus center or other approved provider. The Mount Wachusett CCAMPIS program is also connected to advising services to help students reach their academic goals.

Allison Beer is the Senior Policy Analyst for ACCT. She can be reached at abeer@acct.org