Why We Invested
The promise of Kids on Campus is right there in its name: a simple declaration that raising children and pursuing education should not be designed as mutually exclusive pursuits. Nearly 4 million parents attend college in the US, and despite earning higher GPAs than non-parenting students, less than half graduate. With more than half of student parents raising children that are not yet school age, access to child care is one of their most significant needs. Unfortunately, US campuses, especially community colleges, have not been immune to the broader child care crisis underlying much of American life: availability of on-campus child care has steadily decreased over the last three decades. That’s why Kids on Campus offers an inspiring and promising solution – not only by helping community colleges better serve the needs of their students, but also by expanding access to quality early childhood education for the broader communities they serve.
It's a partnership that just makes sense. It's mutually beneficial for all groups involved. For parents who are going to college, it means an easier commute. You don't have to make two stops and they know their children are getting a high-quality experience that's free. The college benefits because this makes it more likely that people are going to enroll, persist and graduate.