PROSPECT Act

The PROSPECT Act (HR 1630) creates federal grants to provide free, quality child care for infants and toddlers whose parents attend community colleges or minority-serving institutions. It authorizes $9 billion over five years for "access grants" to cover child care costs for up to 500,000 children under age 3, "impact grants" to expand child care supply and quality, and "pipeline grants" to train more child care workers. Participating child care centers must meet quality standards, provide care during nontraditional hours, and pay staff living wages comparable to elementary educators. The bill specifically targets support for low-income student parents, communities of color, and areas with limited child care access. It requires institutions to prioritize enrollment for low-income student parents and report on outcomes like student persistence and degree completion.