CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2862
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-18: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-05T16:42:44Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Child Care Access Means Parents In Schools Reauthorization Act (CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act) aims to support the success of low-income student parents in higher education by funding child care services. It reauthorizes and expands a program under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make child care more accessible and affordable on or near college campuses, helping these students balance parenting and studies.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Authorization: The U.S. Department of Education (Secretary) can award grants to "eligible institutions," defined as colleges or universities with at least 150 students eligible for Federal Pell Grants (need-based federal aid for low-income undergraduates) in the most recent year, or consortia of such institutions. Grants support child care for "eligible student parents," who are enrolled students who are parents or guardians of dependent children and either qualify for a Pell Grant or meet its financial criteria but do not receive one (e.g., due to not completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, ineligibility under general rules, or enrollment in graduate programs).
- Grant Details:
- Minimum award: $75,000 per year (adjustable based on available funds).
- Maximum award: $2,000,000 per year.
- Duration: 5 years, with annual payments.
- Continuation requires proof of good-faith efforts to provide affordable, quality child care.
- Institutions can apply for supplemental funds if needed, up to the maximum.
- Allowed Uses of Funds:
- Required: Establish or support campus-based child care; provide subsidized child care on a sliding fee scale (fees based on income); offer subsidized before- and after-school services.
- Optional: Provide support services for student parents (e.g., counseling); improve child care quality to meet standards like those of Head Start (a federal program for low-income preschoolers) or state quality ratings within 3 years.
- Prohibitions: Funds cannot be used for new construction (only renovations for health/safety); institutions cannot add extra eligibility rules (e.g., work hours or full-time enrollment) beyond basic criteria; child care must comply with state/local licensing.
- Application Requirements: Institutions must submit detailed plans showing need (e.g., student demographics, child care shortages, waiting lists), resources (e.g., leveraging other funding without raising tuition), coordination with early childhood education programs, quality assurances, and outreach to help student parents access other benefits (e.g., SNAP food assistance, Medicaid health coverage, child tax credits). Applications must publicize child care availability and ensure nondiscrimination based on race, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), disability, or other protected traits.
- Priorities for Awards: Preference for programs that leverage local resources, use sliding fees to serve more students, and offer extra support for single parents. No priority for off-campus-only or multi-provider projects.
- Technical Assistance and Reporting:
- The Department provides help to institutions for applying, maintaining grants, and reporting.
- Annual reports from grantees cover student demographics (e.g., by race, single-parent status, disability), enrollment outcomes (e.g., retention, graduation), fee structures, fund usage, and child care quality (e.g., accreditation levels).
- The Department publishes annual summaries and consults stakeholders on data collection.
- Funding Authorization: $500,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2031. Child care aid under this program does not count as other financial assistance for need-based aid calculations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill fully replaces Section 419N of the Higher Education Act of 1965, reauthorizing the CCAMPIS program (originally created in 1998) with major expansions:
- Increases minimum grant size (previously $50,000, non-adjustable) and sets a new maximum, while extending grant duration from 4 to 5 years.
- Broadens eligibility for student parents to include those meeting Pell Grant financial need but not receiving it due to administrative barriers or graduate status (previously limited to Pell recipients only).
- Boosts authorized funding dramatically (prior levels were around $15–20 million annually; now $500 million).
- Adds requirements for child care quality improvements (e.g., meeting Head Start standards within 3 years), detailed reporting on outcomes and demographics, and assistance with other federal benefits.
- Strengthens nondiscrimination protections and prohibits extra eligibility hurdles, while emphasizing support for single parents and sliding-fee models.
- Allows serving community child care needs alongside student parents, promoting broader access.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Low-income student parents, particularly single parents and those from underserved groups (e.g., racial minorities, first-generation students, veterans), could see improved college retention, graduation rates, and workforce entry by reducing child care barriers. This may help families access other aid programs, easing poverty.
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Education gains expanded administrative duties for grant awards, technical assistance, and public reporting, requiring more staff and data systems. Increased funding could strain federal budgets but support broader education equity goals. No direct impact on international relations.
- Broader Effects: Could reduce dropout rates among parent students (estimated 20–30% of low-income undergraduates), potentially increasing educated workforce participation and long-term economic mobility.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Student Parents: Primary beneficiaries, especially Pell-eligible or financially needy parents in higher education, including single parents, disabled students, and veterans.
- Institutions of Higher Education: Eligible colleges (e.g., community colleges, universities serving low-income students) must apply, report, and provide services; consortia enable smaller schools to participate.
- Child Care Providers: On-campus or contracted facilities benefit from subsidies and quality mandates, potentially improving standards.
- Federal Agencies: Department of Education (administration); indirect ties to programs like Head Start, SNAP, and Medicaid via required outreach.
- Communities: Local nonprofits, early education programs, and low-income families near campuses may gain from expanded services.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces nondiscrimination under civil rights laws (e.g., Title IX for sex-based equity, including pregnancy); ensures compliance with state licensing and federal benefit rules. The sliding-fee and subsidy structure aligns with means-tested aid principles, avoiding conflicts with welfare cliffs (sudden loss of benefits).
- Constitutional: Promotes equal protection and access to education (14th Amendment) by addressing barriers for low-income and parent students, without favoring any group unduly.
- Political: Bipartisan support potential as it aids working families and higher education access; high funding level signals priority on social mobility but may face debates over federal spending. No major controversies anticipated, though implementation could highlight disparities in state child care systems.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (17)
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-18: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-09-18: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Child Care Access Means Parents In Schools Reauthorization Act — issued 2025-09-18 — PDF (21 pages)