The Government Accountability Office released findings from a study looking at whether student parents are accessing funds available to help them pay for child care. Almost 20% of undergraduate students are parents and child care costs can keep students from being able to graduate. One big finding is that student parents were not aware of…
A new report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research finds that “free college” programs, often called Promise Programs, often “unintentionally” exclude college students raising children. 1 in 5 college students in the United States are raising children. This often means they are juggling school, work and family care responsibilities. Unfortunately, most college Promise Programs…
A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights the pervasiveness of hunger on college campuses and its effect on college completion. Approximately one third of college students are food insecure. Low-income students and parents are particularly susceptible. This study provided an overview of 31 research studies completed over the past decade to try…
Developed by the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, this guide provides advice on how students can access much-needed supports that increase college completion. These include child care, health care, food assistance, cash assistance, housing, tax benefits, and more. To learn more about students’ access to public benefits, view our video conversation with the…
Ascend at The Aspen Institute is a hub for resources, ideas, and collaboration on two-generational approaches that help parents and their children achieve economic security. This brief covers the state and national policies affecting parents’ access to and completion of postsecondary education. Find more resources at Ascend’s website here.
ECFC, GFE, Funders Together, Workforce Matters and the Roundtable developed this series of recommendations for ways funders can improve access to and completion of postsecondary education and workforce training programs. Suggested strategies include capacity building, direct supports, policy advocacy, narrative and strategic communications, and research.
The National Skills Coalition identifies two barriers to family-supporting wage level positions, especially for women – pre-employment training and child care access. Using case studies and a review of the research, this brief makes the case for federal and state policies that can help women enter the workplace.
This policy report from The Annie E. Casey Foundation uses national and state-level data to identify the greatest challenges faces young parents as they enter the workforce. The report includes policy recommendations that can help parents return to school, get job training, or acquire a job with family-sustaining wages.
The Wisconsin HOPE Lab does an annual survey of post-secondary students’ basic needs. This recent update found that 36% of students are food insecure, 36% are housing insecure, and 9% are homeless. For more information and a detailed look at college students’ current needs, check out the report here.
Balancing Work and Learning: Implications for Low-Income Students, a new research paper from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, details the implications of working while getting a post-secondary education and how these impacts differ for low- and high-income students. High-income students tend to benefit from work, which is likely to be in…