UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has been awarded an $824,768 Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant from the U.S. Department of Education to provide financial assistance for child care to qualifying low-income undergraduate and graduate student parents at University Park and 19 Commonwealth Campuses. The four-year grant will provide $206,192 in funding for the Student Parent Child Care Subsidy Program in 2018-19.

For two decades the program has also been additionally funded by the Office of the Provost, student fees at University Park and participating Commonwealth Campus locations.

As the University prepares for its second year of funding, additional student parents will have the opportunity to apply for the program. The fall 2018 application deadline is Friday, July 27. Penn State, however, offers a rolling application process that is contingent upon available funding. This program offers student parents a way to remain in school while their child is enrolled in a high-quality child care facility.

“For two decades, this program has supported hundreds of low-income student parents in continued enrollment, persistence towards and eventual graduation from the University,” said Holley Rochford, director of Early Child Care Programs and Services. CCAMPIS funding will primarily support child care tuition costs for student parents. 

Rochford said she the program hopes to double the number of students served this year. A new marketing campaign for the program will roll out in August that will include brochures, posters, and mailers at participating campus locations.  

For more information, eligibility requirements and application materials, visit https://hr.psu.edu/child-care-subsidy or contact Cheryl Zeljak, program coordinator, at subsidy@psu.edu or 1-800-746-6759.