On April 16, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced this year’s competition for new Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) awards. Grants are awarded through a competitive process to institutions of higher education that enroll large numbers of Pell Grant recipients. In addition to campus-based child care for infants and toddlers, the program funds parenting classes and before- and afterschool care for older children.
Applicants are encouraged to offer students with dependents a variety of child care options and services. This year’s competition focuses on two absolute priorities, one competitive priority, and an invitational priority. The absolute priorities include projects designed to leverage significant local and/or institutional resources to support program activities and projects that rely on a sliding fee scale for child care services. The competitive preference priority for FY 2019 and for subsequent years is for projects that increase access to educational choice for children in early childhood settings. The invitational priority is focused on serving students and children attending schools in or residing in qualified opportunity zones.
Institutional awards are expected to range from $30,000 to $375,000. ED anticipates making approximately 138 awards to colleges, with each recipient institution eligible for funding for up to 48 months, assuming funding is available. Applications are due by May 31, 2019.