Postsecondary Child Care Grant Program Administration

Program Description and Appropriations History

The Child Care Grant program provides financial assistance to students who have children 12 and under, are not receiving assistance under the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), and who demonstrate financial need for grants, to help pay for child care while pursuing a postsecondary education.

Program Overview

Funds are allocated to eligible postsecondary institutions based on the number of students who report children on the financial aid application. Eligible institutions include all public colleges and universities, private baccalaureate degree-granting institutions and non-profit vocational technical schools granting associate degrees.

Applicants must:

• meet state residency requirements.
• not be recipients of MFIP.
• be enrolled 6-15 credits per term (undergraduates) or 1-6 credits per term (graduates).

• be an undergraduate or graduate student who has been enrolled full time less than ten semesters or the equivalent, or have a baccalaureate degree and been enrolled full time less than ten semesters or the equivalent in a graduate or professional degree program. Students who have withdrawn for active military service after December 31, 2002 are given an extra term of eligibility.

  (New for 2017-2018) eligibility has been extended to five years at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

• not be in default of any educational loan.
• be making satisfactory progress.
• not be receiving tuition reciprocity benefits from another state.
• be pursuing a nonsectarian program or course of study that applies to an undergraduate or graduate degree, diploma or certificate.

The award is based upon the income of the applicant and spouse, the number in the applicant's family, the number of eligible children within the family who need child care, and the applicant's level of enrollment.

The maximum award amount is $3,000 per eligible child per academic year. The amount of the award cannot exceed 40 hours of child care per week per eligible child. The institution may increase the amount shown on the maximum award chart by 10 percent for infant care in certain counties.

2017-2018 Postsecondary Child Care Grant Training

• Child Care Grant Training [ .pptx ]
• Recorded August 19, 2016 Webinar  Awarding Graduate and Professional Students Postsecondary Child Care Grants [ .wmv 165 MB]

  [Note: Brief lapse in audio occurs from 3:16-6:30]

• PPT from August 19, 2016 Webinar on Awarding Graduate and Professional Students Postsecondary Child Care Grants [ .ppt 1.1 MB ]

Child Care Grant Documents & Instructions

• Manual: Postsecondary Child Care Grant Program
• Child Care Grant Rules
• Child Care Grant Statutes
• Increase in 2016-2017 Postsecondary Child Care Grant Maximum Award
• 2017-2018 Application & Instructions
• 2016-2017 Application & Instructions
• 2017-2018 Award Calculation Spreadsheet
• 2016-2017 Award Calculation Spreadsheet
• 2017-2018 Award Notice
• 2016-2017 Award Notice
• 2017-2018 Denial Notice
• 2016-2017 Denial Notice
• Infant Care Adjustment
• 2017-2018 Conflicting Information Form
• 2016-2017 Conflicting Information Form
• Provider Verification Form
• 2017-2018 Maximum Award Chart
• 2016-2017 Maximum Award Chart
• Provider Verification Template
• Transcript Review Spreadsheet for Undergraduates
• Transcript Review Spreadsheet for Graduates and Professionals
• MFIP CCAP Verification Form
• DHS Maximum Provider Rates