It’s a common question: Does Child Care Programs Increase Higher Education Completion Rates? While more research is always needed, current evidence strongly suggests that access to quality child care plays a crucial role in helping student parents achieve their higher education goals. For student parents, juggling academic responsibilities with the demands of raising children can be incredibly challenging. This article explores the compelling link between child care support and improved college outcomes for these dedicated individuals, drawing on existing research and program data to highlight the positive impact of accessible child care.
The Monroe Community College Study: A Case for On-Campus Child Care
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence comes from a study conducted at Monroe Community College in New York. Researchers investigated the outcomes of student parents who utilized the on-campus child care center compared to those who did not. The results were striking. A significantly higher percentage of student parents who used the child care center returned to school the following fall – 68 percent versus 51 percent for those who didn’t use the center.
Even more impressively, students who used the on-campus child care were nearly three times more likely to graduate or transfer to a four-year college within three years. Specifically, 41 percent of student parents using the child care center achieved this milestone, compared to only 15 percent of those who did not. This study provides strong initial evidence that child care programs increase higher education completion rates by providing a vital support system for student parents.
CCAMPIS Program Success: Federally Funded Support Makes a Difference
Further supporting the link between child care and academic success is the data from the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program. This federally funded initiative provides grants to institutions to offer child care assistance to low-income student parents. While comprehensive comparative data is still being gathered, the outcomes for students participating in CCAMPIS programs are promising.
Data from various CCAMPIS programs indicates that participating student parents graduate at significantly higher rates than the average student parent population. For instance, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a study of 77 CCAMPIS participants between 2005 and 2011 revealed an impressive 83 percent graduation rate. This is nearly on par with the overall undergraduate graduation rate of 85 percent at the university in 2010. This is particularly significant when considering that nationally, non-parents are more than twice as likely to graduate college compared to parents (68 percent versus 33 percent). The success of CCAMPIS suggests that targeted child care programs increase higher education completion rates and can help bridge the graduation gap between student parents and their non-parent peers.
The Balancing Act: Child Care Demands and College Withdrawal
However, the struggle for student parents is real. Data from the 2016 Community College Survey of Student Engagement highlights the immense time commitment student parents face. Among community college students living with young children, nearly three-quarters of women and half of men reported spending over 20 hours per week on dependent care. This significant responsibility can understandably lead to difficult choices regarding their education.
The survey revealed that 43 percent of women and 37 percent of men living with children reported being likely or very likely to withdraw from college to manage their caregiving responsibilities. This aligns with existing research showing that working over 20 hours a week negatively impacts college completion. It is highly probable that time spent on child care, especially when combined with work, has a similar detrimental effect on academic persistence. This data underscores the critical need for support systems like child care to prevent student parents from having to choose between their education and their families.
The Mississippi Study: Affordable Child Care as a Key to Persistence
A survey by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) of women community college students in Mississippi further emphasizes the importance of affordable child care. Among mothers who had taken time off from school or dropped out, a significant 59 percent stated that more stable and affordable child care would have been instrumental in helping them stay enrolled. Furthermore, nearly half of respondents with young children reported being unable to access quality child care due to cost. This sentiment was particularly strong among younger, lower-income, and African-American parents, highlighting the disproportionate impact of child care costs on already vulnerable student populations. These findings strongly suggest that lack of affordable child care programs decreases higher education completion rates, especially for those most in need.
Family Commitments: A Major Barrier to Re-enrollment
The challenges of balancing family and education extend beyond initial enrollment. A 2009 Public Agenda survey explored the reasons why adults who had started college but not finished found it difficult to return. A resounding two-thirds of respondents believed that providing child care would significantly aid students like them in completing their degrees. For those who had left college without graduating, “family commitments” emerged as the second most significant barrier to re-enrollment. This demonstrates that the need for child care support is not only crucial for initial college success but also for facilitating the return and completion of studies for those who have had to pause their education.
Investing in Child Care: Investing in Higher Education Completion
In conclusion, the evidence strongly indicates a positive correlation between access to child care programs and higher education completion rates for student parents. Studies from Monroe Community College, data from CCAMPIS programs, and surveys highlighting the challenges faced by student parents all converge on the same point: child care programs increase higher education completion rates by removing a significant barrier to academic success.
While more research is always valuable to refine our understanding and identify the most effective and affordable strategies, the existing evidence makes a compelling case for prioritizing and expanding access to child care for student parents. Investing in child care is not just a support for families; it’s an investment in higher education, workforce development, and the future economic mobility of student parents and their children. By addressing the child care needs of student parents, institutions, states, and communities can create more equitable and effective pathways to higher education and ultimately, a more educated and prosperous society.
