§ 1070e. Child care access means parents in school
(a)
Purpose
The purpose of this section is to support the participation of low-income parents in postsecondary education through the provision of campus-based child care services.
(b)
Program authorized
(1)
Authority
The Secretary may award grants to institutions of higher education to assist the institutions in providing campus-based child care services to low-income students.
(2)
Amount of grants
(A)
In general
The amount of a grant awarded to an institution of higher education under this section for a fiscal year shall not exceed 1 percent of the total amount of all Federal Pell Grant funds awarded to students enrolled at the institution of higher education for the preceding fiscal year.
(4)
Eligible institutions
An institution of higher education shall be eligible to receive a grant under this section for a fiscal year if the total amount of all Federal Pell Grant funds awarded to students enrolled at the institution of higher education for the preceding fiscal year equals or exceeds $350,000, except that for any fiscal year for which the amount appropriated to carry out this section is equal to or greater than $20,000,000, this sentence shall be applied by substituting “$250,000” for “$350,000”.
(5)
Use of funds
Grant funds under this section shall be used by an institution of higher education to support or establish a campus-based child care program primarily serving the needs of low-income students enrolled at the institution of higher education. Grant funds under this section may be used to provide before and after school services to the extent necessary to enable low-income students enrolled at the institution of higher education to pursue postsecondary education.
(6)
Construction
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an institution of higher education that receives grant funds under this section from serving the child care needs of the community served by the institution.
(7)
Definition of low-income student
For the purpose of this section, the term “low-income student” means a student—
(A)
who is eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant for the award year for which the determination is made; or
(B)
who would otherwise be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant for the award year for which the determination is made, except that the student fails to meet the requirements of—
(c)
Applications
An institution of higher education desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. Each application shall—
(1)
demonstrate that the institution is an eligible institution described in subsection (b)(4) of this section;
(3)
demonstrate the need of low-income students at the institution for campus-based child care services by including in the application—
(4)
contain a description of the activities to be assisted, including whether the grant funds will support an existing child care program or a new child care program;
(5)
identify the resources, including technical expertise and financial support, the institution will draw upon to support the child care program and the participation of low-income students in the program, such as accessing social services funding, using student activity fees to help pay the costs of child care, using resources obtained by meeting the needs of parents who are not low-income students, and accessing foundation, corporate or other institutional support, and demonstrate that the use of the resources will not result in increases in student tuition;
(6)
contain an assurance that the institution will meet the child care needs of low-income students through the provision of services, or through a contract for the provision of services;
(7)
describe the extent to which the child care program will coordinate with the institution’s early childhood education curriculum, to the extent the curriculum is available, to meet the needs of the students in the early childhood education program at the institution, and the needs of the parents and children participating in the child care program assisted under this section;
(8)
in the case of an institution seeking assistance for a new child care program—
(A)
provide a timeline, covering the period from receipt of the grant through the provision of the child care services, delineating the specific steps the institution will take to achieve the goal of providing low-income students with child care services;
(d)
Priority
The Secretary shall give priority in awarding grants under this section to institutions of higher education that submit applications describing programs that—
(e)
Reporting requirements; continuing eligibility
(1)
Reporting requirements
(A)
Reports
Each institution of higher education receiving a grant under this section shall report to the Secretary annually.
(2)
Continuing eligibility
The Secretary shall make continuation awards under this section to an institution of higher education only if the Secretary determines, on the basis of the reports submitted under paragraph (1), that the institution is making a good faith effort to ensure that low-income students at the institution have access to affordable, quality child care services.
(f)
Construction
No funds provided under this section shall be used for construction, except for minor renovation or repair to meet applicable State or local health or safety requirements.
(g)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years.