PROSPECT Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
Introduced
Summary
Would expand access to free, high-quality infant and toddler care for student parents and build a stronger, more diverse early-childhood workforce. The bill targets community colleges and minority-serving institutions to fund on-campus and community care, training, and career pathways for infant/toddler providers.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Big grants to expand campus child care
This bill would create a national grant program to grow infant and toddler care for student parents at community colleges and minority‑serving schools. It would authorize $9 billion for 2026–2030. The Education Department would run yearly competitions with grants up to $20 million per college and up to $220 million per consortium. Grants would last 4 years (planning grants 1 year). Programs funded under this title would have to follow strong nondiscrimination rules similar to Title VI.
Free infant care for student parents
Access Grants would let colleges provide free infant and toddler care for student parents, on or off campus. Centers would need to be licensed, meet quality standards, reserve some drop‑in slots, and give first priority to low‑income student parents. At least 85% of student parents served would need to be Pell‑eligible unless waived. During non‑enrollment periods, any fees could not be more than 7% of family income. Funded on‑campus centers would follow federal background‑check rules, and grantees would send anonymized annual reports.
Broader child care help and higher state match
This bill would broaden who can get child care help through the federal child care program. Parents in high school or college would clearly qualify while they study, and states could not set child eligibility rules that are stricter than the federal standard. It would also raise the federal share of costs: the match could be 90% for infant and toddler care if a state pays at least 75% of local market rates, and states would get their usual FMAP for other kids.
Higher pay standards for campus child care
Grant applicants would have to promise that on‑campus child care staff are paid at least a living wage and wages comparable to elementary teachers with similar credentials in the state. This would apply during the grant period and could raise pay at funded centers.
Training more infant and toddler teachers
Pipeline Grants would fund colleges to create or grow early childhood educator programs. Grants could pay for infant/toddler courses, lab‑school upgrades, apprenticeships, and small student grants for tuition, books, transportation, and licensing fees. They would also support practicum placements and culturally responsive coursework, including partnerships with high school CTE and dual‑enrollment.
Grants to help providers add baby slots
Impact Grants would help child care providers open or expand infant and toddler slots, especially in low‑access areas. Funds could support business training, staffed provider networks, and small startup grants for licensed centers and home‑based providers. If used, no more than 30% of a grant could go to professional development. Grantees would consult with state child care agencies and report results each year.
Colleges to explain dependent care allowance
Colleges would add clear info about the dependent care allowance to financial aid materials. Student parents would learn how to include child care costs in their cost of attendance, how it could change institutional aid, and how to apply.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/10/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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