Funding sources

Thanks to a new funding source, families enrolled in on-campus child care at Indiana University Bloomington are saving on monthly payments.

A referendum from the local school district is subsidizing the cost of tuition at Campus Children's Center, Campus View Child Care Center, and Hoosier Courts Nursery School.

Christy Olson, director of IU’s Early Childhood Education Services, said she pursued the funding as part of a longer-term strategy. “We ultimately want to support equitable child care solutions for community members with young children,” Olson said. “This is a great start.”

MCCSC Pre-K

On Aug. 6, 2024, Campus Childrens Center and Hoosier Courts were approved as community partners for the Family-Centered & Community-Focused Referendum from the Monroe County School Corporation. The six-year initiative offers free or affordable high-quality Pre-K for children who were four by Aug. 1, 2024.

IUB ECES will continue it's partnership with MCCSC for the 2025/2026 academic year. This will provide referendum funded subsidy for children who live in the MCCSC district and turn 4 by August 1, 2025, based upon family income. 

New this year, MCCSC is also providing subsidy for families living in the MCCSC district who make less than 225% of the FPL (Federal Poverty Level) and have a child who is 3 by August 1, 2025.

The initiative is open to part-time and full-time IU faculty, staff, and students and community members from the MCCSC district. Depending upon family income, stipends of $4K, $6K, or 8K will be applied to annual tuition in monthly installments. The funding will be applied over a 12-month time frame (August -July).

The partnership between MCCSC and participating community programs will be reviewed and renewed annually.

Early Childhood Education Services

Early Childhood Education Services is a unit of IU Campus Auxiliaries and the umbrella over IUB’s early learning centers. ECES currently receives an annual $721,000 subsidy from Campus Auxiliaries to keep early learning rates down for families. This helps cover teacher and aide salaries as well as food, repair, and cleaning costs.