Promoting Accessibility for Student Parents: Enhancing Child Care and Support at Community Colleges

In the U.S., over 5 million student parents are enrolled in colleges and universities, yet they face significant hurdles in completing their degrees. Colleges struggle with retention rates, particularly for student parents, despite their mission to enhance access to higher education. Less than 40 percent of student parents earn a degree within six years, compared to over 60 percent of their peers without children. For those juggling parenthood and education at community colleges, the situation is even more dire–according to the Beginning Postsecondary Students study done from 2012-2017, two-thirds of community college students with young children have left without a degree five years after enrollment. With over 20 percent of community college students being parents, the need for targeted support to improve their academic outcomes is urgent.

Research from New America highlights a promising solution: community colleges that offer comprehensive support services—ranging from financial aid to on-campus child care—see better retention rates among student parents. Those who managed to stay in school were more likely to benefit from these wrap-around services, while those who had to leave often pointed to the lack of such support as a major hurdle. Balancing academic responsibilities with child-rearing duties is difficult, particularly when high-quality, affordable, and flexible on-campus child care options are scarce. This challenge forces student parents to piece together a patchwork of external child care solutions, disrupting their studies and academic progress. Given these insights, it’s clear that community colleges should focus on expanding and promoting these critical services, and that increased funding from state and federal governments is essential to making these programs widely available and effective.

New America's Child Care for Student Parents at Community Colleges Cohort, is aimed at learning what works to support child care access for student parents across five selected community colleges. The participating colleges have shown a range of innovative approaches to supporting student parents, including on-campus child care facilities, partnerships with Early Head Start or Head Start programs, and connections to federal and state subsidy programs. The team has done two site visits so far, one to Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan, and the other to Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Mott Community College serves approximately 6,000 students and has an on-campus early learning center, which offers accredited early childhood education for children from 6 months to 5 years, and further supports its students with emergency funding, transportation assistance, and other resources. Similarly, Quinsigamond Community College serves around 6,000 students, and offers a variety of child care support through its Parenting Student Support Services Center, which provides access to resources, referrals, scholarships, and operates an on-campus child care center. It also features a dedicated Parenting Student Navigator who coordinates with multiple campus departments to ensure comprehensive support for student parents. Both colleges exemplify how tailored support services can significantly enhance the academic experiences of student parents.

To better support student parents, community colleges should focus on three key strategies. First, they need to expand and enhance on-campus childcare services, particularly by introducing drop-in care options that accommodate non-traditional hours. Flexible and affordable childcare is essential for meeting the diverse schedules of student parents, who often face unpredictable demands. For instance, while Mott Community College provides an early learning center with flexible hours and additional support services like emergency funding and transportation, there is still a need for care outside typical hours. Similarly, Quinsigamond Community College’s Parenting Student Support Services Center, which includes a childcare center and a dedicated Parenting Student Navigator, highlights the importance of such services but also the challenges posed by limited resources. To address this, additional funding could be directed towards developing drop-in care solutions, which would help bridge gaps in service availability and support student parents more effectively.

Second, community colleges should strengthen referral systems to better connect student parents with a comprehensive range of support services. Many student parents encounter significant challenges in navigating the complex landscape of available resources, including mental health support, financial aid, and career counseling. An efficient referral system can play a crucial role in ensuring that students not only access these essential services but also effectively utilize them, thereby preventing them from falling through the cracks. For example, streamlined referrals to mental health resources can help address stress and anxiety, while guidance on financial aid can alleviate financial burdens. Furthermore, access to career counseling can enhance job prospects and stability. By integrating these support services and addressing basic needs through a well-coordinated referral system, community colleges can significantly impact student parent success. This approach not only aids in academic achievement but also fosters overall well-being and engagement in campus life, ultimately contributing to a more supportive and inclusive educational environment.

Third, community colleges must advocate for increased funding and resources to address the current limitations affecting childcare services. Programs like Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) and Child Care and Development Block Grants (CCDBG) offer some support, but their effectiveness is significantly hindered by various limitations. CCAMPIS, administered by the U.S. Department of Education, provides grants to support on-campus childcare or subsidize childcare costs for low-income student parents, aiming to improve retention and success rates. However, the funding is highly competitive and restricted to Pell Grant-eligible students, which leaves many student parents without assistance. For instance, Quinsigamond Community College has struggled with insufficient funding to provide affordable childcare; their recent grant application was rejected, limiting the number of students they could serve. Additionally, CCAMPIS' requirement that centers be nationally accredited further restricts accessibility and adds burden.

Similarly, CCDBG, managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides block grants to states to enhance childcare services for low-income families, including student parents. However, the distribution of CCDBG funds varies by state, leading to mismatches between state priorities and the needs of community college students. Many childcare centers have waitlists, which minimizes the impact of CCDBG grants. Resource and referral centers, often supported through CCDBG, also struggle due to inadequate capacity and effectiveness.

The lack of adequate funding exacerbates existing challenges, such as the inability to implement strong referral systems and provide drop-in care. To address these issues and support the success of student parents, community colleges need to advocate for more flexible and increased funding. By doing so, they can enhance childcare services, address existing gaps in support, and ultimately improve the overall academic and personal success of student parents.

While community colleges play a crucial role in supporting student parents, focusing on expanding childcare services, strengthening referral systems, and advocating for increased funding is essential. By prioritizing these initiatives, community college practitioners can ensure that student parents receive comprehensive, coordinated care that addresses their multifaceted needs, thereby reducing barriers to their educational success and promoting a more inclusive learning environment. Additionally, by addressing current funding limitations, community colleges can significantly improve the academic outcomes of student parents. Such efforts will not only assist student parents in balancing their educational and parenting responsibilities but also promote a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.