CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act
HB5458, titled the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act, would reauthorize and substantially revise the federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School program under the Higher Education Act of 1965. The bill’s purpose is to help eligible student parents succeed in postsecondary education by expanding access to affordable, quality child care, including campus-based child care services. It authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible institutions, sets a minimum annual grant of $75,000 and a maximum of $2 million, and provides for five-year grant periods with annual payments and possible supplemental or continuation awards.
The bill specifies how grant funds may be used, including establishing or supporting campus child care, subsidizing child care on a sliding fee scale, providing before- and after-school care, and supporting related services. It also imposes detailed application, reporting, quality, and nondiscrimination requirements. Institutions must demonstrate student-parent need, describe how they will meet licensing and quality standards, and report annually on participation, demographics, retention, graduation, fees, and quality measures. The bill also directs the Department of Education to publicize the program, may provide technical assistance, and authorizes $500 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2031.
If enacted, the bill would amend section 419N of the Higher Education Act and replace the existing CCAMPIS framework with a more detailed and expanded grant program for colleges and universities serving student parents. It would affect institutions of higher education with at least 150 Pell-eligible students, or consortia of such institutions, and would create new federal requirements tied to child care access, quality benchmarks, data reporting, and coordination with public benefits programs. The bill would also establish a new authorization of appropriations at $500 million per year for six fiscal years, increasing the federal commitment to campus child care support.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears supportive and policy-driven. The bill is sponsored by multiple House Democrats and is framed as a student success and family-support measure, suggesting a positive orientation toward expanding child care access for low-income and parenting students. No contrary positions are reflected in the available context.
The bill’s main potential points of contention are likely to involve federal spending, the scope of reporting and compliance requirements, and the program’s design choices. The authorization of $500 million annually may draw scrutiny from fiscal conservatives, while the detailed quality standards, data collection, and nondiscrimination provisions could raise administrative concerns for institutions. The bill also prioritizes campus-based or institution-linked child care and limits priority for projects solely using off-campus providers, which may be debated by stakeholders who favor more flexible local contracting models.