Madison College disclosed that the U.S. Department of Education declined its application for a new CCAMPIS grant, despite the proposal earning a flawless 100‑point rating from both reviewers. The decision was communicated to President Dr. Jennifer Berne on Oct. 19 via email.
Impact on student‑parent families
The college currently serves 50 student‑parent families in its on‑campus child‑care program, with 28 families confirmed as eligible for CCAMPIS assistance. The loss of anticipated funding threatens the ability to cover up to 95% of child‑care costs for these families, a level previously achieved under the prior grant that ran from 2022 to 2026.
Without the grant, 34 infants and preschool‑age children enrolled before the fall term could lose affordable care. Six families have already turned down child‑care spaces because of cost, three are delaying enrollment while they seek alternative funding, and two have shifted their children to district 4K programs, reducing their college course loads.
College response and alternative funding efforts
President Berne called the outcome “devastating,” emphasizing that the lack of affordable child‑care forces student parents to choose between work and education. The Madison College Foundation has stepped in to cover roughly 25% of child‑care costs for eligible families since October, with a goal of reaching 75% support.
The college is actively pursuing other funding sources, including early‑childhood education scholarships, emergency child‑care grants, and partnerships with workforce and economic‑development agencies. Madison College has offered on‑campus child‑care since the late 1980s and recently expanded its Truax Early Learning Campus and opened a new early‑learning center at the Goodman South Campus in January 2026.
Broader implications
College officials warn that without a sustainable funding solution, demand for child‑care among student parents may decline, potentially reducing enrollment in credential programs and affecting regional employers who rely on a skilled workforce. The denial also highlights the competitive nature of federal education funding, as none of the 79 applications that received perfect scores were selected for the award.
Original reporting: NBC15 WMTV (Gray) – local — read the source article.
