Child Care Grant
(Formerly know as the Single Parent Program)
Child Care Grants assist Â鶹¾«Æ·ÔÚÏß²¥·Å student parents in earning their degree, diploma, or certificate by subsidizing some of their child care expenses. Students awarded the Child Care Grant choose their child care provider and the providers are paid directly each month.
Application Deadlines
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Complete an application by the following deadlines:
- Fall: Applications due by last Sunday of August
- Spring: Applications due by last Sunday of January
- Summer: Applications due by last Sunday of May
Â鶹¾«Æ·ÔÚÏß²¥·Å has a limited amount of funding for Child Care Grants each semester and may be fully committed before the deadline date.
You can still be added to the waiting list, and receive personalized assistance identifying additional options for support. By completing this short form, you can add your name to the waiting list to be notified of future opportunities to apply for the Child Care Grant. You can also indicate your interest in learning more about a variety of community child care resources.
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Eligibility
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All funds are paid directly to child care providers. Child care providers are required to provide a Form W-9 in order to receive payment.
In order to be eligible for a Child Care Grant, applicants must:
- Be enrolled in a diploma, certificate, or degree program that is six months or more in duration.
- Be attending full- or part-time in the semester for which you are requesting assistance.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). (You will need to complete the FAFSA to apply for the Child Care Grant even if you do not typically receive federal aid)
- Have successfully completed a minimum of one semester at Â鶹¾«Æ·ÔÚÏß²¥·Å. (New students or students in their first semester are not eligible)
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards (Maintaining a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative GPA and successfully completing at least 67 percent of all attempted coursework)
- Be able to claim the child(ren) as a dependent(s)
Note: Any student who has a bachelor’s degree is not eligible for assistance. Students who have an associate’s degree will be considered but may not be awarded assistance based on the applicant pool and available funding.
Students not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress or who are suspended from financial aid may be allowed an exception on a provisional basis for one semester in order to support their ability to restore SAP and financial aid.
Â鶹¾«Æ·ÔÚÏß²¥·Å employees are not eligible.
Eligible uses of Child Care Grant funds include:
- Day care costs in a child care center or in home-based care
- Parent fees associated with day care costs for applicants receiving subsidized care through through County Child Care Services, Early Head Start, or Head Start
- After-school and before-school care
- Babysitter/nanny expenses
- Summer programs
Additional information
Awards are contingent upon successful completion of current semester courses.
Courses outside of a student’s program do not count toward childcare awards.
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Award Decisions
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The following factors are considered in making award decisions:
- Availability of funds and the applicant pool – Funding is limited and can vary from semester to semester. All students who are eligible for the program may not receive an award. Awards may be less than the amount requested.
- Academic performance and student conduct – Applicants should meet satisfactory academic progress and/or show evidence of success with their program of study and adhere to the Student Code of Conduct. Faculty recommendations are strongly considered and must be satisfactory at minimum.
- Financial need – Priority will be given to students with the greatest financial need, as demonstrated by FAFSA information.
- Current situation – Each student’s circumstances are evaluated individually, including their course load and other commitments. All parenting students are eligible to apply for Child Care Grants, but priority will be given to students who identify as single parents and to students awarded Child Care Grants in the previous semester.
If you withdraw from a class while receiving the Child Care Grant:
- Students are required to notify the Child Care Grant coordinator immediately.
- The Child Care Grant may be adjusted.
- The Child Care Grant may not be awarded for repeated classes.
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Student Responsibilities
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Students who are awarded Child Care Grants are required to:
- Select their child care provider(s) and provide all necessary information to the coordinator to ensure provider(s) are paid in a timely manner.
- Meet with the Child Care Grant coordinator at the beginning of the semester.
- Fulfill all requirements of their classes.
- Contact the coordinator if they are having difficulty meeting class requirements
- Contact the coordinator about any changes to their class schedule or child care arrangements.
- Complete and return all requested paperwork and forms by their deadlines.
Students who do not fulfill their responsibilities may be denied Child Care Grant assistance for at least one subsequent semester.
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Faculty Recommendation Form
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As a part of the application process, the coordinator must verify student’s enrollment in and completion of their courses for the semester. Students will be asked to send the Faculty Recommendation Form to instructors for all of their classes. Verification is required at the start of the semester, and subsequently during the semester to confirm that the student is successfully meeting class requirements.
Sample email for students requesting faculty recommendation for Child Care Grant:
Dear _______:
I am applying for the Child Care Grant at Â鶹¾«Æ·ÔÚÏß²¥·Å. This grant will support my ability to succeed in your class and in my goals at Â鶹¾«Æ·ÔÚÏß²¥·Å. In order to complete my application, I am requesting your assistance completing the faculty portion.
Could you please complete this brief to confirm my participation in your class?
Thank you very much for your support!
Sincerely,