Financing Child Care in the United States - Ewing Marion Kauffman ...

HIGHER EDUCATION
CAMPUS–BASED CHILD CARE
(NEW YORK)
DESCRIPTION
New York State’s higher education fund and federal
funds from the Child Care and Development Fund
support campus child care centers at the State University
of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York
(CUNY).
WHEN ESTABLISHED
State higher education funds were first allocated to
SUNY campuses in FY1984–85. The following year,
funding for SUNY community colleges was added.
Federal child care funds for SUNY and CUNY campuses
began in FY1992–93.
ANNUAL AMOUNT
In FY1999–2000, child care centers on CUNY’s
campuses received a total of $3.4 million in state higher
education funds and $1.27 million in federal Child Care
and Development funds.
In FY1999–2000, child care centers on SUNY’s
campuses received a total of $3.91 million in state higher
education funds and $1.27 million in federal Child Care
and Development funds.
SERVICES FUNDED
Funds support the cost of establishment, renovation,
expansion, improvement or operation of child care centers
at public two—and four—year colleges in New York.
CUNY sponsors 18 child care centers that serve
approximately 2,000 children. SUNY sponsors 52 centers
that serve approximately 4,500 children each year.
HOW FUNDS DISTRIBUTED
Campus–based centers apply for, and receive, grants
from the State University of New York System
Administration. There is an annual Request For Proposal
process, during which the child care centers submit
enrollment, budget and program information. Funds are
distributed based on the number of student children
served.
POPULATION SERVED
The initiative targets student parents. While faculty, staff
and community members may enroll children in the
SUNY centers, funding is intended to keep the services
affordable for students. Federal Child Care and
Development Fund dollars are used to pay child care fees
for student parents with family incomes at or below 200
percent of the State Income Standard (similar to the
federal poverty level).
STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS
• These programs offer vital support for many
low–income students who are not eligible for New York
State child care subsidies. Child care subsidies are
typically limited to employed low–income families.
• The program requires centers to generate a 35 percent
match, which often come from student activity fees or
parent fees. In New York City a portion of the match is
provided by city tax levy funds.
• When the funds were first allocated, the primary focus
was on one–time, start–up or expansion to increase
the availability of campus–based child care. As the
number of centers increased, additional expansion/
start–up was not encouraged. However, in
FY1999–2000 new funds were allocated to
campus–based child care, and campuses were
encouraged to expand their child care programs or to
start new ones.
• Proponents of campus–based child care argue that
targeted investments in campus–based child care pay
for themselves in additional tax dollars that are
generated by individuals who were able to obtain a
college degree, earn higher wages and remain a stable
part of the work force.
OTHER SITES WITH SIMILAR STRATEGIES
Seven additional states (California, Florida, Illinois,
Kansas, Michigan, Ohio and South Carolina) make funds
available to support campus–based child care. These
funds are typically allocated as part of the higher
education budget. Some states allocate a portion of their
federal Child Care and Development Fund dollars to
campus–based child care.
CONTACTS
Marion Newton
Coordinator of Child Care Services
State University of New York
SUNY Plaza, Room N–505
Albany, NY 12246
Phone (518) 443 5249
Fax (518) 443 5223
E–mail newtonms@sysadm.suny.edu
Todd Boressoff
CUNY Child Care Advisory Committee
BMCC Early Childhood Center
199 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007
Phone (212) 346 8260
Fax (212) 346 8258
E–mail Tboresoff@aol.com
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