Child Care

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Childcare Assistance

The North Carolina General Assembly appropriates money for childcare services for student-parents at Isothermal Community College.  Childcare services funded through this allocation provide contractual services with childcare facilities or individual childcare providers.  This is a block fund and therefore not all eligible applicants will receive funding.

 Awarding Process

 The funds provided will be awarded in the following manner:

	First priority will be given to student-parents who received childcare assistance during the previous award year but not to exceed two years beginning in the fall semester.  The returning student must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.00 or better, and have completed at least 6 credit hours each semester enrolled (exceptions approved by the Childcare Coordinator) and not reached maximum timeframe.  Once a student has received childcare assistance for two complete years beginning with the fall semester, that student is no longer eligible to receive childcare assistance.  A student will receive funding for two complete years plus the beginning partial year.
	The student must be a resident of Polk or Rutherford counties and be eligible for instate tuition.
	Second priority will be given to single student parents in all curriculums who need financial assistance with childcare to complete their programs.
	Third priority will be given to married student parents in all curriculums who need financial assistance with childcare to complete their programs.

Funding will not necessarily be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis; all applicants will be given equal consideration, given the priority order listed above.

Verification of need will be done by the Childcare coordinator.  All applicants must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid in order for a need calculation to be performed.   Eligibility for federal financial aid is not a criterion for receiving childcare assistance.

 Childcare Facilities and Providers

The student parents are responsible for choosing a licensed childcare facility or other childcare provider and must sign an agreement with the provider.  The college’s role is limited to providing financial assistance only.

LICENSED CHILDCARE FACILITIES are those that have met minimum state standards and have been granted a license to operate under state guidelines.

OTHER LEGALLY OPERATING CHILDCARE PROVIDERS include the following four categories of service providers: 

1. Church-operated childcare centers that have sought and been granted specific exemption from licensing because of programming and operational preferences.

2. Family daycare homes which are registered with the state Division of Child Development and provide childcare services to five (5) or fewer children.

3. Group care facilities which provide childcare services for no more than four (4) hours per day are exempt from licensing requirement.

4. Individuals who provide childcare in non-regulated homes.  These care-givers may be registered with the Division of Child Development, but they are not regulated by the state. NOTE: Payment to a spouse for care of his/her own child is not permitted.

 Childcare Assistance Student Requirements 

	Have a 2.00 GPA if you are a returning student.
	Complete an Application for Childcare Fund.
	Upon acceptance, select the childcare provider.
	Sign a Contract of Agreement to comply with terms of assistance.
	Furnish the childcare provider with a Childcare Invoice/Attendance Report for each month.
	Provide the faculty with monthly Student Attendance Report form which they must complete and sign.
	Return the Childcare Invoice/Attendance Report and Student Attendance Report forms to the Childcare Coordinator no later than the 5th day of the month.  It is absolutely necessary that the Student Parent’s signature be on both forms.  They will not be accepted without the proper signatures.
	Assume responsibility for payment to the Childcare Provider if the required forms are not submitted to the Childcare Coordinator on time.
	Register for and complete a minimum of six (6) semester hours in a curriculum program each semester with a 2.00 or better GPA.  Program changes and changes in semester hours required can only be approved by the Childcare Coordinator.
	Adhere to the policies and procedures developed by Isothermal Community College.

 Childcare Provider Requirements

	Complete the Childcare Invoice/Attendance Report form and return it to the Childcare Coordinator by the 5th of each month.  The student parent may bring this form to the Financial Aid Office for the Childcare Provider.  The college will not assume any responsibility for forms not returned to the Financial Aid Office or forms that are lost in the mail.
	If the Childcare Provider fails to submit the required form by the 5th of the month, the Childcare Provider will not be compensated until the next pay period.
	Once the proper forms have been submitted to the Childcare Coordinator, they will be sent to the Business Office to be processed, and the check will be mailed to the Childcare Provider.  The process requires several days to complete and will also depend on the way holidays, breaks, and/or the day of the week that the 5th of the month falls on.  Everything possible will be done to expedite this process.

Childcare Application   

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