Tidewater Community College to open 2 child-care centers, offer scholarships
Tidewater Community College is opening two early childhood centers over the next year.
The school will open a center on its Portsmouth campus in August, and one on its Norfolk campus in January. They will serve TCC students with children ages 3-5.
“These centers will provide quality care and developmental learning for children of TCC students, helping them thrive while their parents pursue higher education,” states a news release about the new program.
Ciera Streeter, director of TCC’s Childhood Development Centers, said the college previously contracted with an outside provider to provide childcare on its campuses. But the centers closed several years ago.
When the centers open this year, they will be operated by the college and staffed with students and alumni of TCC’s Early Childhood Development program. Each will have 30 slots available.
The college was awarded a grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program — or CCAMPIS. The grant, for nearly $670,000 a year for four years, will allow the centers to offer child-care scholarships to families with financial need. Previously, the college used the grant to award scholarships to students to use for childcare with outside providers with whom the college had partnered.
But Streeter said their research showed there was still a gap in the childcare slots available in the community, which led the college to open its own centers. The scholarships can now be used at the TCC centers or partner providers.
Streeter said the need for childcare was highest in Portsmouth and Norfolk, which is why the college decided to begin with those campuses. The long-term plan is to open centers on the Chesapeake and Virginia Beach campuses, as well.
“Parents will be able to attend in-person classes, complete internships or program requirements and feel relief from financial barriers, all while their children receive high-quality care,” Streeter said.
All TCC students are eligible to apply for the child-care centers, including those attending other campuses and those attending virtual classes. Priority will be given to students who are eligible for CCAMPIS scholarships.
Applications for scholarships are open through Aug. 25. Full-time students with a FAFSA on file with the financial aid office are eligible to apply for childcare scholarships by visiting tcc.edu/service-support/child-care.
Students can also use their remaining financial aid funds – after the cost of tuition, fees and bookstore charges are deducted – toward the child-care center costs.
The centers will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. They will focus on teaching children school readiness and life skills through play.
For more information about the childcare program at TCC, contact Streeter at cstreeter@tcc.edu or by calling 757-822-1099. For information about the CCAMPIS scholarship, contact LaShell Currie at lcurrie@tcc.edu or by calling 757-822-1796.
Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com
