Grant funding plays an important role in many early childhood programs, often enhancing or expanding program services. This month, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), opened a grant competition for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program (CCAMPIS) program to provide campus-based child care services. $43.5 million funding is available, with an award ceiling of $443,492 per grant. The deadline for applications is June 1, 2021.
Purpose and eligibility. Per the CCAMPIS Federal Register Announcement, eligible applicants include institutions of higher education that awarded a total of $250,000 or more of Federal Pell Grant funds during FY 2020 to enrolled students.
Purpose of Program: The CCAMPIS Program supports the participation of low-income parents in postsecondary education through the provision of campus-based child care services.
There are two absolute priorities for applicants seeking CCAMPIS funding: 1) projects must leverage significant local or institutional resources, including in-kind, and 2) projects must utilize a sliding fee scale for services. There are also three invitational priorities: supporting students who are single parents, addressing child are shortages due to COVID, and providing wrap-around services for low-income parents in postsecondary education.
Early childhood and higher education partnerships. If your program provides child care services (including Head Start/Early Head Start), consider how its community needs assessment addresses – or could address – the priorities noted above. Explore goals that your agency has related to community partnerships. You can use this data and information to initiate conversations with local potential applicants.
A few questions that you might reflect on include: does our agency have existing partnerships with institutions of higher education; if not, what institutions might we partner with? New or expanded partnerships can support a comprehensive approach to meeting children and families’ needs through the CCAMPIS program.
Timeline considerations. As stated in the funding announcement on grants.gov (Funding Opportunity Number: ED-GRANTS-030321-001), applications became available on March 3, 2021. The application submission deadline is June 1, 2021, and the deadline for intergovernmental review is August 2, 2021.
How to apply. The Funding Announcement for CCAMPIS grants directs potential applicants to Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, located in the Federal Register. Applications are required to be submitted through grants.gov.
Learn more. On March 30, 2021, the Department of Education will host a Pre-Application Technical Assistance Workshop. In the workshop, information will be shared about program requirements and how to apply, and there will be opportunity for participants to ask questions. If you’re interested in attending, you need to register by March 24, and you can learn more on the CCAMPIS Applicant Information website.
Foundations for Families’ Consulting Services include providing assistance preparing for, writing, and submitting federal grant applications. Our team of consultants is highly skilled at implementing services remotely. If your program is interested to learn more about how we might support your program, please contact us.
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