ANNANDALE, VA — Northern Virginia Community College has launched a new childcare assistance program for parenting students with support from a $250,000 grant from the Northrop Grumman Foundation.
The grant, awarded to the Northern Virginia Community College Educational Foundation, will fund the Family Forward Childcare Program, which is designed to help students overcome childcare challenges that can prevent them from completing college. College officials said the program will support students throughout 2026.
NOVA President Anne M. Kress said the partnership is intended to remove a major obstacle facing many student parents.
"By partnering with the Northrop Grumman Foundation, we are removing the barriers that stand in the way of high-quality education and a career for our parenting students," Kress said. "This is a generational investment in the stability of our parenting students and the strength of our regional workforce."
According to NOVA, the program will help cover the cost of licensed childcare for parenting students, with an average of about $2,500 in assistance per student based on data from the college's previous federally funded childcare program.
The initiative will prioritize military-affiliated students and those pursuing degrees or credentials in high-demand fields, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), medical education and skilled trades.
Northrop Grumman Foundation President Agartha Larbi said supporting parenting students can have long-term benefits for both families and the workforce.
"Our contribution to the Family Forward Child Care Program reflects our commitment to strengthening the communities where we live and work. Supporting parenting students in STEM strengthens our community," Larbi said. "When parents gain new skills and credentials, their children also grow and benefit."
College officials cited research showing that 71 percent of parenting students identify caregiving responsibilities as the biggest threat to remaining enrolled in college, according to the Center for Community College Student Engagement's 2025 survey. NOVA also noted that nationally, about 28 percent of parenting students complete their degrees within six years, citing data from New America.
NOVA said data from its earlier childcare support efforts showed that students receiving assistance successfully completed 87 percent of the credits they attempted with grades of A, B or C.
Among those participants, 69 percent earned grade point averages of 3.0 or higher, and more than one-quarter of those students achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA, according to the college.
The Family Forward Childcare Program is intended to provide parents with dependable childcare so they can focus on completing degrees, certificates and industry credentials that can improve career opportunities.
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