Â鶹ӰÊÓ

Childcare Assistance Grant

The Childcare Assistance Grant assists Â鶹ӰÊÓ students who are parents in earning their degree, diploma, or certificate by subsidizing some of their child care expenses. Students awarded the Childcare Assistance Grant choose their child care provider and the providers are paid directly each month.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Â鶹ӰÊÓ has a limited amount of funding for Childcare Assistance grants each semester.

All funds are paid directly to child care providers. Child care providers are required to provide a Form W-9 in order to receive payment. New child care providers or agencies will be required to complete a new vendor application.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for a Child Care Grant, applicants must:

• Be enrolled in a diploma, certificate, or degree program that is six months or more in duration. Continuing education students may be eligible; however, they must complete a FAFSA.
• Be attending full- or part-time (minimum of six credit hours) in the semester for which you are requesting assistance.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). (You will need to complete the FAFSA to apply for the Child Care Grant even if you do not typically receive federal aid)
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards (Maintaining a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative GPA and successfully completing at least 67 percent of all attempted coursework)
• Be able to claim the child(ren) as a dependent(s)
   

Students not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress or who are suspended from financial aid may be allowed an exception on a provisional basis for one semester in order to support their ability to restore SAP and financial aid.

Â鶹ӰÊÓ employees are not eligible.

Eligible uses of Child Care Grant funds include:

• Day care costs in a child care center or in home-based care
• Parent fees associated with day care costs for applicants receiving subsidized care through County Child Care Services.
• For students who are receiving vouchers, only parent fees will be approved for the childcare grant
• After-school and before-school care
• Babysitter/nanny expenses
• Summer programs

Award Decisions

The following factors are considered in making award decisions:

• Funds will not be distributed directly to the student but to the vendor providing the service for the child(ren).
• Availability of funds and the applicant pool – Funding is limited and can vary from semester to semester. All students who are eligible for the program may not receive an award. Awards may be less than the amount requested.
• Academic performance and student conduct – Applicants should meet satisfactory academic progress and/or show evidence of success with their program of study and adhere to the Student Code of Conduct.
• Financial need – Priority will be given to students with the greatest financial need, as demonstrated by FAFSA information.
• Current situation – Each student’s circumstances are evaluated individually, including their course load and other commitments. All parenting students are eligible to apply for Child Care Grants.
   

If you withdraw from a class while receiving the Child Care Grant:

• Students are required to notify the Child Care Grant coordinator immediately.
• The Child Care Grant may be adjusted.
• The Child Care Grant may not be awarded for repeated classes.

Student Responsibilities

Students who are awarded Child Care Grants are required to:

1. Select their child care provider(s) and provide all necessary information to the coordinator to ensure provider(s) are paid in a timely manner.
2. Meet with the Child Care Grant coordinator at the beginning of the semester.
3. Fulfill all requirements of their classes.
4. Contact the coordinator if they are having difficulty meeting class requirements
5. Contact the coordinator about any changes to their class schedule or child care arrangements.
6. Complete and return all requested paperwork and forms in timely matter
    

Students who do not fulfill their responsibilities may be denied Child Care Grant assistance for at least one subsequent semester.