La Crosse Student Parents Lose Childcare Grant
Student parents at Western Technical College will not get the expanded campus childcare the federal grant would have funded.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Child Care
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Western Technical College in La Crosse did not receive a federal CCAMPIS grant that would have expanded childcare for student parents. The college had requested just under $1 million over four years and learned of the decision in October; the grant went to 40 institutions nationwide, none in Wisconsin.
Why it matters
Childcare access is a practical barrier for student parents, and the grant would have extended campus childcare to days when classes are not in session and to the summer months. Officials were not given a reason for the rejection, leaving the college without a clear path to reapply on the same terms.
The figures come from the college's own grant application and enrollment estimate, and the award list shows 40 institutions selected with no Wisconsin recipients. The 300 to 500 student parent count is an estimate, not a verified census.
The players
Western Technical College
A public technical college in La Crosse, Wisconsin, offering career and workforce training programs.
The details
The CCAMPIS program funds campus-based childcare for low-income student parents, and the college applied by requesting multi-year funding to expand its existing childcare offerings. The proposed expansion would have covered days when classes are not in session and the summer months, periods when many student parents lose access to care and must choose between work, school and their children. Without the grant, the college's current childcare capacity remains in place, and any expansion would depend on other funding sources.
Timeline
October: Western Technical College learned it would not receive the CCAMPIS grant.
Four years: The grant funding period the college had requested.
Health Landscape
Access to affordable childcare is a documented factor in whether parents can complete education and enter stable employment. Federal programs like CCAMPIS represent one of the few dedicated funding streams aimed at campus-based childcare for student parents.
Student parents who rely on campus childcare may face gaps in coverage during breaks and summer, which can affect work schedules and class attendance. If childcare is a barrier for you or someone you know, it is worth asking a campus student services office about current options and any emergency or subsidized care available.
The takeaway
Childcare stability is closely tied to students' ability to finish school and keep working. Student parents facing gaps in care should ask their campus about existing childcare resources and subsidies before deciding how to balance classes and work.
Further reading
For broader context on family support options, see Child Care coverage in La Crosse.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News8000.
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