Student Parent Childcare Bill Authorizes $500M Annually for Colleges to Subsidize Care

The Child Care Access Means Parents In Schools (CCAMPIS) Reauthorization Act is essentially a massive federal commitment to helping student parents finish their degrees. This bill authorizes the appropriation of $500 million annually from Fiscal Year 2026 through 2031, earmarking that cash specifically for colleges and universities to provide affordable child care for their enrolled student parents.

The Real Cost of College: Tuition Plus Daycare

This isn't just about putting a playground on campus; it’s about removing a major barrier that stops parents—especially those from low-income backgrounds—from completing school. To be eligible for this subsidized care, a student parent must be enrolled and either qualify for a Federal Pell Grant or meet the financial requirements for one. This focus means the funds are aimed squarely at students who need the financial break the most, whether they’re juggling classes, a job, and a toddler at a community college or pursuing a graduate degree.

Colleges that qualify (meaning they have at least 150 Pell Grant recipients) can receive grants between $75,000 and $2 million per year for five years. They must use this money to either start or support an on-campus child care facility, offer subsidized care using a sliding fee scale based on income, or provide subsidized before- and after-school care. They can also use funds for support services, like perhaps parenting workshops or academic advising tailored to student parents, but the core focus is getting those child care costs down.

Raising the Bar on Campus Care

One of the most interesting parts of this bill is the quality control mandate. Within three years of receiving the grant, the college’s child care program must meet serious quality standards—think the equivalent of Head Start performance standards or accreditation by a recognized national body. This isn't just about providing a babysitter; it’s about ensuring that the care subsidized by federal money is high quality, which is a win for the kids and the parents who rely on it.

However, the bill is clear on what the money can’t do: it generally can’t be used for new construction. If a college needs to build a new facility to house its program, it’s mostly on its own. The grant money can only cover renovations or repairs necessary to meet health and safety codes. While this keeps the focus on program delivery, it does limit the ability of schools with no existing suitable space to quickly launch a new program.

The Reporting Requirements and the Catch

Colleges aren’t just handed the money and told to go wild. They have to report annually on who they served—demographics, enrollment status, whether they are single parents, and critically, if the student parents stayed enrolled or graduated. This data is key to proving the program’s effectiveness. The Secretary of Education must then publish a public report summarizing these findings every year, which means we’ll all get to see if this half-billion-dollar investment is actually helping student parents cross the finish line.

For institutions that don't meet the minimum threshold of 150 Pell Grant recipients, like certain smaller or specialized schools, they are left out of this funding stream unless they form a consortium with other schools. While this ensures the money goes where the need is greatest, it leaves some smaller colleges without access to this crucial support for their own student parents.