Description
Some countries have enacted legislation to allocate resources to subsidize the cost of child care for student-parents. In the US, the Higher Education Act of 1965 was amended in 1998 to authorize the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, which “supports the participation of low-income parents in postsecondary education through the provision of campus-based child care services.” Higher education institutions that have awarded at least $350,000 in certain types of federal grants during the previous year are eligible to apply for CCAMPIS funds, which may be used to support or establish on-campus infant/toddler/child care, subsidize students’ costs for child care, or conduct programs for parents or staff development. CCAMPIS grants can be awarded for up to four years. The funding level for the program has varied over the years. Although the program has received approximately $16 million every year since 2003, the number of projects conducted under the program has decreased from 342 in 2003-2004 to 155 in 2010-2011.
Other countries have made child care a requirement of large employers such as universities. Cambodia’s national labor laws state that “enterprises with at least 100 women are required to provide day-care centers or pay child-care fees.”
Implementation lessons learned
In designing programs like the CCAMPIS grants, administrators should consider the eligibility criteria for awarding grants. In addition, program planners should raise awareness to ensure that eligible institutions take advantage of the funding opportunity.
Example
US Department of Education’s Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program
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