Balancing coursework, employment, and caregiving, parenting students bring unmatched potential to their college, community, and career. One in five undergraduate students is a parent, and 74% of them are women. Without a support system to fall back on, many student parents are forced to drop out of college due to limited and unaffordable child care options.
Through partnerships with Kids on Campus, parenting students receive more than child care and quality education for their young children. They find support, strength, and leadership opportunities at Head Start programs housed on community college campuses.
How do community colleges benefit from having Head Start on campus? Not only does having a center on campus help students stay enrolled, but the appeal of one can result in increased enrollment numbers of new students and staff. If an existing child care center is in operation on campus, Head Start can serve as an expert partner while reducing the college’s budgetary or managerial burden.
Palo Alto College and AVANCE – San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas, and Howard Community College and the Community Action Council of Howard County in Columbia, Maryland, are two examples of partnerships where parenting students and their children can fully commit to their education.
Three student parents shared their stories about how having a Head Start center on their campus allowed them to be an example to their children, pursue their dreams, and ensure their children receive high-quality education and care.
