It's Time to Declare a Victory!
Todd BoressoffNCCCC Public Policy Chair
Provision Passed in Conference
At this writing (September 16, 1998) it appears that the National Coalition for Campus Children’s Centers can declare a significant victory in our efforts to pass the CAMPUS Child Care Provision of the Higher Education Act (HEA). The Senate/House conference committee is presently moving through the HEA and yesterday they completed their work on the CAMPUS Child Care Provision. When the full Act is passed, probably before October 9, our Provision will become law.
As is inevitable there have been some compromises. But this is a year of Washington turmoil, a year in which child care funding remains largely unchanged. Thanks to the hard work of campus and child care leaders around the nation we have not only prevailed, we will see a significant authorization of funds and a longer grant term. We are even likely to have an appropriation in the first year.
What Does the Provision Looks Like?
The Act sets aside $45 million to support campus-based child care services, splitting the difference between the Senate’s $60 million and the House’s $30 million. Each college or university will be eligible to apply to the Department of Education for up to one percent of its prior year Pell Grant expenditure. The funding will go to any institution with at least $350,000 in Pell Grant expenditures and it will be available to start-up, expand or operate campus child care programs.
On grant renewal there is good news, bad news and good news. Good news #1. The grant is for four years rather than three (as in both houses’ versions). Bad news. The grant is not renewable. Good news #2. We can get renewal by the time we need it. It will be at least a year until any program can start to use these funds and the Higher Education Act comes up for reauthorization again in 5 years. Because by 2003 programs all over the country will be in years 2, 3, and 4 of their grants, we will have an even larger and more well informed base of advocates. And, we will be able to point to cuts, to parents and children forced to dropout. I have little doubt that by the time grants need renewal, we will win the right to renew them.
In Washington more often than not when funds are "authorized" it takes at least an additional year get actually get funds appropriated to match that authorization. In recent months it seemed doubtful that funds for campus child care would be appropriated this year. At this writing, however, it appears that at least $5 million and perhaps as much as $10 million will be appropriated for this coming year. This means that we can begin to build the system that could eventually bring support to almost every campus in the country.
What Comes Next?
As usual we still have work to do – a lot of work. First we will need to make contacts within the Department of Education and make sure that the regulations and the RFP process governing these grants are workable. If any of you already have productive relationships within the Department, please contact me right away. To help us actually work on details the National Coalition for Campus Children’s Centers board emeriti may be an excellent resource
At the same time we need to begin to work on the appropriations for next year. We want our full $45 million appropriated so that as many campuses as possible can access these funds. Thousands of student parents need child care so that they can graduate and become productive members of our society. Thousands of children need the quality early childhood education that we provide so they can move on to school ready to learn and to the world at large ready to succeed.
But for now to quote fellow NCCCC board member Marion Newton, "This is a momentous day! (We) deserve to enjoy at least a moment of triumph!"
Congratulations and deepest thanks to each of you who worked to support this initiative. You made a difference. Now the next stage begins.
Todd Boressoff, Public Policy Chairperson
National Coalition for Campus Children’s Centers
BMCC Early Childhood Center
199 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007
(212) 346-8260 Fax: (212) 346-8258
TBoressoff@bmcc.cuny.edu
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