How Baldwin Park Unified School District Expands Opportunities for Student Parent Success in Los Angeles, California
Now in its third year, Kids on Campus, the joint initiative between the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and the National Head Start Association (NHSA), continues to support partnerships between community colleges and Head Start programs nationwide. These partnerships bring early childhood education directly onto community college campuses, giving parenting students, who comprise nearly one in five undergraduates, a stronger chance to excel in their own education journeys.
Located in Los Angeles, California, Baldwin Park Unified School District (USD)’s involvement with Kids on Campus initiated from an earlier effort to support local teen parents’ transition from high school to community college. Now, the program is a clear example of success, and has recently expanded five slots to a second college.
The district now has two on-campus Early Head Start and Head Start programs, with a newly launched partnership with Rio Hondo College and one at Mt. San Antonio College launched prior to the Kids on Campus initiative. Both programs serve families in two of the region’s largest community colleges, and are attended primarily by the children of parenting students.
The program works to meet the developmental needs of enrolled children while also removing barriers that might otherwise force parenting students to choose between their education and their family. Baldwin Park USD’s early childhood education program recognizes the significance the first years of life have on development, and works to ensure both children’s and parents’ needs are met.
In addition to high-quality childhood education, affordability, and flexible hours, the district brings significant resources to both colleges, such as the “Baby to Baby” initiative, which grants families free diapers, wipes, and clothing. They also connect families to a broad set of campus services, reinforcing the two-generation principle that strong families and successful students occur hand-in-hand.
By meeting parenting students where they are, helping them remain enrolled in school, and offering competitive salaries to retain workers, the Kids on Campus model benefits families, colleges, Head Start programs, and communities.
As Kids on Campus continues to expand toward its goal of 50 partnerships by 2030, Baldwin Park is just one example of how a network of support improves lives and outcomes.
Additional Resources
Learning Without Limits: Kids on Campus Year Two Annual Report