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 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.

Recently, Congress more than tripled funding for CCAMPIS from $15 million to $50 million. As a result, the Department of Education estimates there will be over 200 new grants awarded. Colleges must apply to participate in the program and the FY2018 window is currently open through July 24, 2018. More information to apply is available here.

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