Parent Pathways Grant Program

The Parent Pathways Grant Program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), specifically through its Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education. The program is designed to address a documented gap in postsecondary completion rates among parenting students, a population that includes individuals balancing academic responsibilities with raising dependent children. Research cited by the Commonwealth indicates that approximately one in five undergraduate students are parents, and nearly half do not complete their degree programs. In response to these findings and recommendations from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and the Parent Pathways Learning Network, the state allocated funding to support targeted interventions that improve persistence and completion outcomes for this population. The primary purpose of the grant is to provide financial and programmatic support to postsecondary institutions so they can implement or expand services that directly assist parenting students. These supports include tuition assistance, emergency funding, and comprehensive wrap-around services such as childcare access, transportation, food security initiatives, and housing assistance. Institutions are expected to design programs that align with statewide priorities, including improving access to financial aid, strengthening childcare infrastructure, and integrating data-informed strategies into student support systems. Funding is intended to supplement, not replace, existing aid, and must be used to address unmet needs after other financial resources have been exhausted. Eligible applicants are limited to postsecondary institutions located within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that are authorized to award associate degrees or higher, as well as certain private licensed schools. Only one application per institution is permitted, and consortium applications are not allowed. The applying entity must be the main campus, although awarded funds may be distributed internally to branch campuses. Institutions must also be in good standing with PDE, including compliance with prior grant reporting requirements. Preference is given to institutions that demonstrate either an established network of support services for parenting students or a clearly articulated plan to develop such infrastructure. The application process requires submission through the Commonwealth’s eGrants system. Institutions must first complete an access request and ensure that the designated applicant has appropriate authority to submit and negotiate grant agreements. The application itself includes multiple components: institutional information, program design and objectives, narrative responses, and a detailed budget. Applicants must clearly describe how proposed activities align with the Parent Pathways Learning Network recommendations, including measurable goals, baseline data, and projected outcomes. Supporting documentation, such as partnership commitments and evidence of existing services, is encouraged to strengthen the proposal. Funding requests are competitive and capped at a maximum of 150,000 dollars per institution for the grant period. Funds must be used within the defined performance window and cannot be carried forward into subsequent years. Allowable expenses include scholarships applied toward cost of attendance, staffing support for program implementation, childcare-related infrastructure improvements, and emergency financial assistance for students. Institutions must establish processes for distributing aid equitably, including application procedures for scholarships and emergency funds. All expenditures must directly support the persistence and success of parenting students and align with the approved proposal. Applications are evaluated through a structured review process conducted by a panel selected by PDE. Each submission is scored based on criteria including the quality and completeness of program design, the use of data to inform objectives, the feasibility of projected outcomes, and the clarity and appropriateness of the proposed budget. Applications must be comprehensive and well-articulated to be considered competitive. Following award decisions, institutions enter into a grant agreement and must adhere to reporting and compliance requirements, including final expenditure reports and participation in evaluation activities such as surveys and interviews. The application window for the 2026 cycle opens on January 12, 2026, and closes on February 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM. The grant performance period runs from June 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Applicants were required to submit questions by January 20, 2026, with responses distributed shortly thereafter. Final reports are due by July 31, 2027. The program is positioned as a recurring initiative aligned with state budget allocations and policy priorities, indicating the likelihood of future funding cycles aimed at sustaining and expanding support for parenting students across Pennsylvania’s higher education system.

Ensure alignment with Parent Pathways Learning Network priorities including childcare financial aid and basic needs; provide strong baseline data and measurable outcomes; present detailed and realistic budget tied directly to program goals; demonstrate existing or planned support infrastructure for parenting students