Sign in Subscribe
Students

Reintroduction of CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act Aims to Increase Access to On-Campus Child Care for Parenting Students

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The reintroduction of the Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) Reauthorization Act by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and U.S. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark aims to increase access to on-campus child care for the more than 3 million parenting students enrolled in postsecondary education programs. The legislation would reauthorize and increase funding for the only federal program that exclusively supports on-campus child care services, ensuring the U.S. Department of Education meets the needs of parenting students. Despite the latest cuts from the Trump Administration, the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act would help provide student parents access to the child care they deserve, allowing them to focus on their education and build a stronger future for their families.

Key Takeaways:

  • The CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act would reauthorize and increase funding for the only federal program that exclusively supports on-campus child care services, ensuring the U.S. Department of Education meets the needs of parenting students.
  • Parenting students already graduate with much higher levels of debt compared to non-parenting students and have more difficulty paying that debt off while making ends meet.
  • Since 2004, the number of parents enrolled in college has grown by 30 percent, while the share of institutions offering on-campus child care services has declined by 14 percent.
  • The legislation would help connect parenting students to benefit programs that help with food, housing, and health care services.
  • The CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act has been endorsed by 24 organizations, including the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Ascend at the Aspen Institute, and the National Women's Law Center.
  • Senator Duckworth has been a strong supporter of expanding and protecting the CCAMPIS program, originally authoring the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act in 2016 while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Statistics:

  • Over 3 million parenting students are enrolled in postsecondary education programs.
  • Parenting students graduate with $10,000 more in debt on average compared to non-parenting students.
  • Since 2004, the number of parents enrolled in college has grown by 30 percent.
  • The share of institutions offering on-campus child care services has declined by 14 percent since 2004.
  • $500 million would be authorized for CCAMPIS grants per year.
  • The minimum grant award would be increased to $75,000 per year, with a maximum grant award of $2 million per year.

Sources:

  • [Duckworth, Tammy, & Clark, Katherine (2023). "Reintroduced Legislation Aims to Increase Access to On-Campus Child Care for Parenting Students." Press Release.]
  • [The White House. (2023). "Fact Sheet: The Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) Reauthorization Act."]
  • [American Association of University Women (AAUW). (2023). "AAUW Endorses CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act." Press Release.]

Read more