Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $13 Million to Improve Access to Child Care for Student Parents
Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $13 Million to ... US Department of Education
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The Biden-Harris Administration Announces Grants to Support Campus-Based Child Care Programs
The Biden-Harris Administration today announced more than $13 million in grants to 34 institutions of higher education to support or establish high quality, campus-based child care programs to meet the needs of student parents with low incomes enrolled on their campuses.
More than one in five students are parents and 42% of all student parents attend community colleges. High-quality child care provides benefits to children, their parents, and the economy at large.
Supporting Student Parents and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
These grants align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. Specifically, they contribute to:
- SDG 4: Quality Education – by supporting student parents in their pursuit of postsecondary education.
- SDG 5: Gender Equality – by breaking down barriers for parents, particularly mothers, to access education and improve their earning potential.
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – by providing high-quality child care that supports student parents in upskilling and attaining postsecondary education, ultimately boosting their earning potential.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona emphasized the importance of campus child care programs in breaking down barriers and bringing the American Dream within reach for families across America. He stated, “Today’s grants will help 34 colleges and universities raise the bar for how they support student parents as they work to earn degrees and credentials that will advance their careers and boost their earning potential. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to building an inclusive higher education system that’s accessible to students from all walks of life, including parents who dream of better futures for themselves and their families.”
Improving Child Care Quality
For the first time, applicants for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant program were encouraged to propose ways to improve the quality of the services they provide. This includes higher wages for childcare workers, which can significantly reduce turnover and are associated with better care and improved child outcomes.
An important aspect of quality in early childhood settings is the nature of relationships and interactions between early childhood staff and children. This year’s competition included an invitational priority aligned with President Biden’s Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers. The invitational priority was for applications from institutions that are working to improve the quality of campus-based childcare provided to the children of low-income student parents. This includes increases in compensation and providing support services for early childhood teachers, using both Federal and non-Federal funding as appropriate. Twenty-six out of the thirty-four institutions receiving awards will advance this priority as they extend critical child care support to student parents.
Other Grant Programs
In addition to the CCAMPIS grants, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) also announced more than $75 million in grant awards it made in three other grant programs with FY23 funds to benefit underserved students at postsecondary institutions. These programs include:
- The Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Part A grant program
- The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) state grant program
- The Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP)
The Department’s commitment to supporting underserved students aligns with the SDGs, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
List of CCAMPIS Awardees
| State | Institution | Award Amount | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL | Jacksonville State University | $376,110.00 | ||||||||||||||
| AL | Troy University | $500,000.00 | ||||||||||||||
| CA | Cal State LA University Auxiliary Services, Inc. | $450,000.00 | ||||||||||||||
| CA | Chabot-Las Positas Community College District-Chabot College | $500,000.00 | ||||||||||||||
| CA | Fresno City College | $500,000.00 | ||||||||||||||
| CA | Kern Community College District – for Bakersfield College | $500,000.00 | ||||||||||||||
| CA | Lake Tahoe Community College District | $330,597.00 | ||||||||||||||
| CA | Merced Community College District | $500,000.00 | ||||||||||||||
| CA | Sonoma County Junior College District | $250,000.00 | ||||||||||||||
| CA | The Regents of the Univ. of Calif., U.C. San Diego | $487,981.00 | ||||||||||||||
| CA | The Regents of the University of California, Santa Cruz | $500,000.00 | ||||||||||||||
| DE | University of Delaware | $500,000.00 | ||||||||||||||
| FL | University of West Florida | $500,000.00 | ||||||||||||||
| GA | Atlanta
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The article discusses the importance of campus-based child care programs to support student parents with low incomes. This aligns with SDG 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. It also connects to SDG 5, as providing high-quality child care can help promote gender equality by enabling student parents, including mothers, to pursue their education and career goals. Additionally, the article mentions the benefits of child care programs for the economy, which relates to SDG 8’s focus on promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. Lastly, the emphasis on supporting student parents with low incomes highlights the goal of reducing inequalities (SDG 10) by ensuring equal access to education and support services.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are related to ensuring access to quality early childhood development and care (Target 4.2), recognizing and valuing unpaid care work (Target 5.4), promoting decent work for women and men (Target 8.5), and promoting social and economic inclusion (Target 10.2).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These include:
These indicators can be used to assess progress towards the targets of ensuring access to quality early childhood development and care, recognizing and valuing unpaid care work, promoting decent work for women and men, and promoting social and economic inclusion.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together. Source: ed.gov
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