Balancing college coursework and parenthood presents unique challenges, and access to affordable and reliable day care is often a critical hurdle for student parents. Data from the Department of Education reveals that a significant portion of undergraduate students are parents, and they face disproportionately lower degree completion rates. This article explores the available programs designed to support student parents in accessing day care, helping them achieve their educational goals.
Understanding the scope of the issue is crucial. According to recent data, over one in five undergraduate students are raising children. These student parents often juggle multiple responsibilities, with a large percentage being single parents and working full-time while enrolled, often part-time, in school. Financially, they are often more strained than their peers without children, and nearly half bear the additional expense of child care, which can average around $490 per month. This financial strain, coupled with caregiving responsibilities, contributes to a higher dropout rate among student parents compared to students without children.
One key federal program designed to address the day care needs of student parents is the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program. Funded by the Department of Education, CCAMPIS provides grants to colleges and universities to support on-campus or contracted child care services for low-income student parents. In a recent year, CCAMPIS assisted approximately 3,300 students in affording day care for about 4,000 children.
However, the demand for CCAMPIS assistance far outweighs its current reach. Alarmingly, around 4,200 children were on waiting lists for CCAMPIS support, highlighting a significant gap in available resources. Even for those who receive CCAMPIS subsidies, most student parents still contribute to child care costs, with a median monthly payment of about $160. This indicates that while CCAMPIS provides valuable assistance, it often doesn’t fully cover the financial burden of day care.
The Department of Education assesses CCAMPIS program effectiveness by tracking student persistence and graduation rates. However, reports have identified methodological issues in how these metrics are calculated, raising concerns about the reliability of program evaluations. This makes it challenging to accurately gauge the program’s impact and advocate for necessary improvements or expansions.
Beyond CCAMPIS, another potential avenue for financial support lies within the federal student aid system itself. Student parents are eligible to request an increase in their federal student loan amounts to cover dependent care expenses. This allowance acknowledges the additional costs faced by parents pursuing higher education. However, a significant issue is the lack of awareness about this option. Reviews of college websites have revealed that a majority fail to mention this allowance, meaning many eligible student parents remain unaware of this potential financial relief. Colleges are not mandated to publicize this information, and the Department of Education does not actively encourage them to do so.
In conclusion, while programs like CCAMPIS and the federal student aid dependent care allowance exist to support student parents with day care costs, significant gaps remain. CCAMPIS, though beneficial, has limited reach and faces evaluation challenges. The student aid allowance is underutilized due to a lack of awareness. To truly support student parents in achieving their educational aspirations, increased awareness of existing programs, expanded program funding, and streamlined access to resources are crucial steps.
