WORCESTER, MA — A new federal grant will help a community college in Worcester address a major barrier facing students who are also raising children.
Quinsigamond Community College recently received more than $1.9 million through the four-year Child Care Access Means Parents in School grant program. The school will use the funding for its Parent Success at QCC program, which will subsidize child care for eligible students and connect families with additional support.
More than 30 percent of QCC students are parents and many also work full-time or part-time jobs, according to the college.
"Due to the high cost of living and low availability of childcare, these students are often in the difficult position of missing classes to take care of family responsibilities," QCC President Luis Pedraja said in a statement.
The program will involve the school's Parenting Student Support Services, its early childhood education lab school and other college departments. QCC also plans to work with licensed community child care providers.
Students participating in the program will receive case management, connections to community resources, peer support and workshops on subjects including child development, financial literacy and time management.
The funding will also help cover gaps between the college and K-12 calendars, including school vacations, professional development days and snow days. One surveyed QCC student told the college that a lack of child care during those periods had caused the student to miss several days of classes.
The grant was issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, according to QCC.
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