Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
About the Campus Child Care Act
(`SEC. 419N. CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL)
WHAT CAN THESE FUNDS BE USED FOR?
The funds can be used "by an institution of higher education to support or establish a campus-based child care program primarily serving the needs of low-income students enrolled at the institution of higher education."
WHAT IS MEANT BY CHILD CARE PROGRAM?
I believe that child care centers and/or family day care arrangements are both possible. The funds are meant to support a program, however, or work toward developing a child care program, rather than to provide child care scholarships to individual students.
IS THERE A DEFINITION OR A SPECIFIC CRITERIA A CENTER NEEDS TO MEET TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS FUNDING?
There are a number of criteria. The full language of the act is available on the NCCCC web page, but here are a couple of the relevant sections.
"Grant funds under this section shall be used by an institution of higher education to support or establish a campus-based child care program primarily serving the needs of low-income students enrolled at the institution of higher education. Grant funds under this section may be used to provide before and after school services to the extent necessary to enable low-income students enrolled at the institution of higher education to pursue postsecondary education."
"Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an institution of higher education that receives grant funds under this section from serving the child care needs of the community served by the institution."
WHAT IS MEANT BY "RENEWAL"?
Renewal means the ability for the whole four year grant to be renewed. For instance, if a college has expended $5 million in their prior year's Pell grant, they will be eligible to apply for $50,000 per year. This would be available only for four years if the grant cannot be renewed. This is how the law is presently written, but we should have plenty of time to try to change this before the next HEA reauthorization.
CAN THE GRANT BE USED IN A "CO-MINGLED" SERVICE (i.e. student, faculty/staff, community)?
Yes. While the emphasis is on providing support to low income student parents, the law explicitly allows others to be served by the facility. But the facility MUST serve low income students.
IF AWARDED, ARE THE MONIES SPREAD OVER 4 YEARS OR WOULD THERE BE ANNUAL AMOUNT EACH YEAR?
As noted above, the award would be for each year for four years. If a college has $5 million in prior year Pell grant, they will be eligible to apply for $50,000 per year for four years.
DOES THE INSTITUTION HAVE TO APPLY ANNUALLY FOR THE FUNDS?
No, but the institution will have to make a report after 18 months regarding the progress of the grant to draw down year three and year four funds.
WHEN WILL THE FUNDING BE APPROPRIATED?
On the federal level $5 million has been appropriated for the 1998, 1999 fiscal year. This is only a small percentage of the $45 million "authorized," but it is a start. It should take some time for the US Department of Education to "gear up." First they must write regulations (NCCCC is trying to have input here), then they must allow for a 90 day comment period (I'll let people know) then the RFP's must be designed. Only then will institutions be able to apply for the grant.
CAN THE FUNDING BE USED FOR DIRECT SUBSIDIES IF SUCH A PROGRAM ALREADY EXISTS?
Because there is so little money available the intention is not to provide direct subsidies, but rather to support the development of a program and to leverage other available funding and help institutionalize quality child care on campus.
IS THE FUNDING LIMITED TO STUDENTS?
As noted above the funding may go to programs that serve non-students, but only if those programs serve low income students. An all faculty or all community program would not be eligible.
OUR CENTER IS A SEPARATE NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE CHILD CARE SERVICES FOR THE UNIVERSITY. WOULD THE UNIVERSITY BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THESE FUNDS TO EXPAND THE CHILD CARE PROGRAM IF THE PROGRAM IS A SEPARATE ENTITY?
Many campus child care programs are incorporated as separate not-for-profits. This should not be a problem. Nor does the language of the law prohibit a college or university from contracting out if they choose to.
DOES CAMPUS BASED CHILD CARE MEAN ON-CAMPUS?
I would define it as "on or near campus" and serving the needs of the campus community. How the DOE will ultimately define it is unclear.
DOES CAMPUS BASED CHILD CARE MEAN UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE SOLE SPONSORED?
A qualified yes. It must serve the needs of the college community, but the college could contract with another entity to do this.
MUST THE PROGRAM SERVE PRIMARILY STUDENTS OF THE INSTITUTION?
This could be problematic. The wording is "primarily serving the needs of low-income students enrolled at the institution of higher education." But it is unclear whether this refers to the whole center or that part of a program to be funded under the grant. Most campus-based child care programs MUST serve all students, as well as faculty/staff and community, to stay alive. It was the original intent of this bill to allow this. NCCCC will be working to get clarity on this.
IS THE MONETARY AWARD (1% OF THE PELL GRANT FUNDS) SPREAD OUT OVER THE 4 YEARS OR DOES THE INSTITUTION RECEIVE THE 1% OF ITS PELL GRANT FUNDS EVERY YEAR FOR 4 YEARS?
1% every year for four years. An institution with $4 million in Pell could be eligible for $40,000 in each year for 4 years.
IS CONSTRUCTION, MODIFICATION OR RENOVATION ALLOWED?
"No funds provided under this section shall be used for construction, except for minor renovation or repair to meet applicable State or local health or safety requirements." Usually construction means putting up new outside walls. But there could also be a cost determiner.
DOES LOW INCOME STUDENT MEAN THAT THE STUDENT MUST MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL PELL GRANT DEFINITION OR ONLY THE INCOME DEFINITION LEVEL? (For example, are international students considered low income under this definition based on their income or would they not meet the requirement because they could not access a Pell Grant?)
Not sure. The language says "the term, low-income student, means a student who is eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant for the fiscal year for which the determination is made." This could probably be read either way. Needs clarity.
DOES ACCREDITATION MEAN ACCREDITATION THROUGH NAEYC? What happens if the idea presented in the proposal is to establish in-home group child care in a family day care setting?
The original intention was to encourage NAEYC accreditation for centers, but to also encourage accreditation of other modalities. There are national family day care organizations that are moving to systems of accreditation.
IS THIS PROGRAM ONLY A ONE SHOT DEAL? IF A UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE IS NOT FUNDED THIS YEAR, WILL NEW FUNDS BE AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR FOR NEW AWARDS?
There are perhaps three answers to these questions. 1) For institutions that are successful in receiving a grant and adhere to the eventual guidelines, funding will be available for each of four years and then stop (we hope to be successful in heading this problem off in the next HEA reauthorization process). 2) Programs that do not receive funding in the first year should be able to apply in future years, assuming additional funds are appropriated. Remember that the "authorization" is for $45 million per year. If we are successful in obtaining an "appropriation" of $45 million, there should be enough for most programs to receive 1% of their prior year's Pell. 3) NOTHING is ever a sure thing in government (or anywhere else). We will need to continue to advocate for these funds every year and on all levels (with legislators, with DOE, with line level bureaucrats, on our campuses, with our boards, etc.).
WHOM DO YOU SUGGEST WE CONTACT ON THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL TO BEGIN PURSUING THIS FUNDING?
This is a campus by campus, or university system by university system, decision. It depends on who is responsible on your campus for child care. In some cases this is student affairs, in some early childhood education, in some a faculty/student entity, in some administration. Whom to contact also depends on who writes grants (development office?) and in large part on the politics of your campus. On each campus some people get more things done than others.
But in all cases if a center is already in existence, the center director should play a very significant role in this process.
WILL THE RFP'S BE AVAILABLE FROM THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR WILL THE MONEY BE MADE AVAILABLE BY STATE?
From the US Department of Education.
That's it so far. I wish I had the time to put together a more organized presentation, but I do feel that these FAQ'S will help answer many of the questions that people have about the CAMPUS Child Care section of the Higher Education Act.
WHEN, AT YOUR BEST GUESS, WILL RFP'S BECOME AVAILABLE TO BEGIN THE APPLICATION PROCESS?
As of this date, January 11, 1999, the Department of Education estimates that applications will be available in mid-February.
WHO AT THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DO I CONTACT FOR A COPY OF THE RFP?
Cynthia Brown
United States Department of Education
Office of Higher Education Programs
1280 Maryland Ave. SW Rm. 600
Washington, DC 20202
202-260-8458, fax: 202-708-9046
cindy_brown@ed.gov
WOULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE ONLINE URL SITE WHERE I CAN DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION?
I do not know this yet. As soon as I do I will post the address to the NCCCC list serve CAMPUSCARE-L. See below about how to sign up. NCCCC will also post a link for the application on our web page.
HOW ACCURATE IS IT THAT THE MONIES HAVE BEEN DECREASED DRAMATICALLY FROM THE INITIAL PROPOSAL?
Completely accurate. The initial Dodd/Snowe Senate bill called for $60 million. The Act itself "authorizes" $45 million. But only $5 million was appropriated in the budget.
HOW WE CAN GET A COPY OF THE REGULATIONS DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
To facilitate speedy implementation it does not appear that there will be regulations promulgated for the first year of the grant. It is likely, however, that they will eventually be necessary. As soon as they are available I will notify the CAMPUSCARE-L list serve (see below).
WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN OUTSIDE PROVIDER WITH WHOM WE CONTRACT FOR SERVICES. CURRENTLY THEY ARE A "FOR-PROFIT" ENTITY, BUT HAVE DISCUSSED WHETHER "NOT FOR PROFIT" STATUS MAY BE THE BETTER WAY TO GO.
The CAMPUS Child Care Act does not address "for profit" or "not-for-profit" status. So both kinds of programs would be eligible. Which is the better approach for your campus is wholly a campus-by-campus decision.
SINCE THE $5M IS AVAILABLE FOR FY 98-99, BUT THE RFP'S WILL NOT BE READY UNTIL SPRING 1999, WILL THE FUNDING BE RETROACTIVE?
My understanding is that when a child care program becomes funded, they will have a significant portion of the year following to expend those funds. From the federal perspective contracted FY 98-99 funds are considered spent in that year, even if your contract is to spend them during the following fiscal year.
IF A BUILDING IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION DURING 98-99, WITH AN EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE OF MAY 1999, WILL THE CENTER STILL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR FUNDS?
Yes. You will already have completed your construction by the time you access the finding. In any case, an institution could also indicate interim steps they might take to serve student parents until construction is completed.
DO YOU KNOW IF WE WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE AS A "FOR PROFIT?"
Yes.
COULD YOU PLEASE FORWARD ANY ADVICE YOU HAVE TOWARD SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION FOR THIS FUNDING?
First, read the Act itself. It is available on the NCCCC web page (see below). Until they write regulations the Department of Education will have to closely follow the instructions laid out in the law itself.
Be sure to focus on developing or expanding or improving a program of some kind. The intent of the Act is not merely to provide subsidies for a few students. A variety of program types are likely to be considered.
Demonstrate the ultimate fiscal viability of the program you propose. Show how you will leverage other sources of funding which, together with the CAMPUS Child Care Grant, will insure a quality and lasting child care program.
HOW DO I KEEP UP TO DATE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE CAMPUS CHILD CARE ACT?
If you are a member of NCCCC, you can join the NCCCC's CAMPUSCARE-L Listserv list.
Contact the US Department of Education. Our contact is:
Cynthia Brown
United States Department of Education
Office of Higher Education Programs
1280 Maryland Ave. SW Rm. 600
Washington, DC 20202
202-708-8458, fax: 202-708-9046
cindy_brown@ed.gov
Todd Boressoff, NCCCC Liaison for CCAMPIS Affairs
National Coalition for Campus Children's Centers
BMCC Early Childhood Center
199 Chambers Street
New York, NY 100007
(212) 346-8260 Fax: (212) 346-8258
TBoressoff@bmcc.cuny.edu
http://www.campuschildren.org
Disclaimer: This is to provide technical assistance to those considering applying for grants under the CAMPUS Child Care Act. These answers represent my thinking as of January 11, 1999. I have helped develop this initiative, carefully studied the Act and met with and had many phone conversations with Cynthia Brown the newly hired Department of Education administrator. But the Department is the ultimate authority on grant administration and will issue the formal applications and instructions. This is my sense, then, of how the CAMPUS Child Care Act might or should be implemented. I hope these FAQ’s will help you think through the application process.
Todd Boressoff, Public Policy Chair
National Coalition for Campus Children's Centers
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