Parent Pathways Grant

Location:	Pennsylvania
Posted:	Jan 13, 2026
Due:	Feb 6, 2026
Agency:	State Government of Pennsylvania
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	89 - Subsistence (Food)
Solicitation No:	6100065123
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

General Information

Department for this solicitation:

Procurement

Date Prepared:

01/12/26

Types:

RFA

Advertisement Type:

Service

Materials

Service & Materials

PW Construction

Agency Construction

Real Estate

Solicitation/Project#:

6100065123

Solicitation/Project Title:

Parent Pathways Grant

Description:

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education (OPHE) is pleased to issue this request for applications for Parent Pathways Grant Program 2026 for eligible postsecondary institutions to fund scholarships and programming to address supports for parenting student success at postsecondary institutions. For the purposes of this grant, “institution” shall include postsecondary institutions in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with authorization to award an associate degree or higher academic degree and private licensed schools. Only the main campus may apply, and funds can be disseminated to branches as the institution deems appropriate if awarded.

Applications are being accepted through eGrants, please see the attached RFA and Application Template for details.

More information can be found on the OPHE website: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/resources/student/empoweru/resources-for-institutions/grants/pa-parent-pathways-initiative

Department Information
Department/Agency:	Department of Education	Delivery Location:
County:	Statewide	Duration:	12 months

Contact Information
First Name:	Cindy	Last Name:	Gebhard
Phone Number: (XXX-XXX-XXXX)	717-783-6567	Email:	cgebhard@pa.gov

Solicitation Information
Bids must be received by the purchasing agency on the Solicitation Due Date no later than the Solicitation Due Time as set forth in the solicitation. Any conflict between the dates and/or times contained in the solicitation itself or its attachments and this advertisement shall be resolved in favor of the solicitation.
Solicitation Start Date:	01/12/26
Solicitation Due Date:	02/06/26	Solicitation Due Time:	5:00 PM
Solicitation Opening Date:	02/06/26	Solicitation Opening Time:	5:01 PM
Opening Location:
No. of Addendums:	0

Amended Date:	01/13/26

Related Solicitation Files

Original Files

	2026 Parent Pathways Request For Application.pdf
	2026 PA Parent Pathways Grant Application.pdf

Attachment Preview

Request for Application

Parent Pathways Grant Program 2026

(Document #6100065123)

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Office of Postsecondary and Higher

Education (OPHE) is pleased to issue this request for applications for Parent Pathways Grant

Program 2026 for eligible postsecondary institutions to fund scholarships and programming to

address supports for parenting student success at postsecondary institutions. This document

describes the requirements applicants will be expected to meet and the criteria that will be used

to award funding.

The application submission window will open on Monday, January 12, 2026, and close at 5:00

PM on Friday, February 6, 2026. Grant agreement is from June 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

Please complete and return your application submission via eGrants.

Background

Studies indicate that one in five undergraduate college students is balancing the responsibilities

of raising children while pursuing a postsecondary education1 and almost half of these students

do not earn a degree2.

Parenting students bear significant burdens and need additional support to navigate through

their academic program successfully. In December 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of

Human Services (DHS) released a policy report3 following consultations with parenting

students, postsecondary institution staff, subject matter experts, various state agencies, and

community leaders. The Parent Pathways Learning Network (PPLN) concentrated on

addressing the necessary support for food, childcare, housing, and financial aid. The results

underscored the importance of integrating the firsthand experiences of parenting students into

statewide policymaking. Governor Shapiro, in support of these findings, reallocated $1.61

million in his 2025-2026 budget to support these students.

The Parent Pathways grant provides funding to institutions to directly support the persistence of

these students in the form of tuition assistance, emergency funding, and wrap-around services.

1Young parenting students in higher education and the colleges that serve them (childtrends.org)

2 GAO-19-522 Highlights. HIGHER EDUCATION: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student

Aid

3 Parent-Pathways-Policy-Report.pdf

December 2025

Institution Eligibility

For the purposes of this grant, “institution” shall include postsecondary institutions in the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with authorization to award an associate degree or higher

academic degree, as defined in section 2001-J of the Public-School Code of 1949, as

amended (24 P.S. §20-2001-J) and private licensed schools, as defined in the Act of

December 15, 1986 (P.L. 1585, NO. 174). Only one proposal will be accepted from each

institution. Applicants may not apply as a consortium. Only the main campus may apply, and

funds can be disseminated to branches as the institution deems appropriate if awarded.

Institutions must be in a current good standing with PDE, including the completion/approval of

all previous Final Expenditure Reports for any previous grant awards with PDE.

Proposals submitted by prior award winners should demonstrate how the program sustains or

builds upon and enhances initiatives implemented by the institution in previous years. This

would include providing qualitative and quantitative data, as available.

Priority of awarded program funds must be specific to Pennsylvania resident learners.

Parenting guidelines include biological and or legally dependent children, as defined by the

United States tax code (under the age of 19 or 24 if a full-time student, or any age if

permanently disabled, or a qualifying relative)4.

For priority consideration, institutions must be committed to serving parent learners by

demonstrating that the campus has a proven network of resources and can show data and

strong outcomes OR demonstrate the campus is actively working toward launching resources

and programming in the upcoming year and can provide details of their upcoming work. Data

and plans should be submitted in the uploads section of eGrants.

Funding and Eligible Programs

The 2026 Parent Pathways Grant offers institutions the opportunity to apply for competitive

funding not to exceed $150,000.

Students receiving awarded program funds must have completed the Free Application for

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and all gift aid is to be exhausted prior to utilizing funding. Final

reporting will include a completed spreadsheet identifying the student’s cost of attendance or

gift aid as well as certification that funds were utilized to meet the Cost of Attendance (COA),

which includes tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, and childcare. This includes all

scholarships or emergency funded students.

Funds may be expended only on eligible programs, activities, and purposes identified in the

proposal and approved by OPHE. Funds must be expended during the grant period and

cannot be rolled over into a new grant year.

Funding requests can include a combination of any eligible program described in this request for

application. Funding is not guaranteed to any applicant.

4 Dependents | Internal Revenue Service

December 2025

• Parent Services Grant Funding – to expand or implement parent programming,

resources, and supports.

o Parent Programming – Through an application, acceptance, attendance and

program completion/graduation or open access to resources for parenting

students, i.e., gift cards, basic need vouchers, etc.)

o Funding can be used for, but is not limited to, wrap-around services for

students, expansion of childcare facilities (furniture, shelving, supplies), staffing

salary support for parent navigators, transportation support (Uber, public

transportation vouchers), and other expansion of work already being

accomplished on campus.

• Parenting Student Scholarships

o Scholarships may not exceed the COA.

o The funds should be applied as last dollar and cannot supplant any federal,

state, or institutional gift aid.

o Priority should be given to senior students. Institutions must implement an

equitable application process to ensure all parenting learners have the

opportunity to apply.

o The institution must work with the financial aid office to identify parenting

students who have completed the FAFSA and have financial need to ensure

communication with eligible students. In instances where FAFSA data is

incomplete, institutions should secure other verifying documents including, but

not limited to, relevant tax forms outlining child dependents, birth certificates of

child dependents, etc.

o Tuition, fees, and textbooks, priority to 2nd year community college students or

senior parenting students (including outstanding balances for tuition, fees and

textbooks).

• Emergency Funding

o For the use of stipends/emergency funding up to a maximum amount as

determined by the institution.

o Emergency aid can be given to students after they have received their aid

package. If the amount is for an education or basic need (budget) component,

it doesn’t have to be included in estimated financial aid or COA.

o Emergency Stipends can be utilized as an on-demand emergency account for

students who have received a parenting student scholarship or may be utilized

for additional parenting students who have not received the scholarship.

o Institutions must establish an emergency application process specific to parent

learners and publicize the availability of this opportunity. (i.e., childcare,

transportation needs, utilities, food, other).

Allowable Expenses

Due to limited funding, only items directly related to eligible programs and activities

covered in this request for application will be funded by the Parent Pathways Grant.

December 2025

Unallowable Expenses

All budgets will be reviewed to evaluate appropriateness and connection to proposed grant

activities and goals for parenting students.

eGrants Access

Grant applications will be submitted through the eGrants system.

For access to the eGrants system and the related grant opportunities, prospective applicants

should complete the eGrants Request Form. Please note that the person completing the grant

application must have signatory authority to negotiate grants and contracts for the institution and

be able to upload documentation into the eGrants system. Institutions with eSign ability in

eGrants will be able to utilize this feature to complete the application.

Grant Application Components

The Parenting Pathway grant application consists of four sections: Applicant Information,

Program Information, Narratives, and Budget.

Area 1. Applicant Information

In this section, institutions will provide detailed contact information for the individual

responsible for the grant application. It is important to provide any changes to the

institution’s contact to ensure continuity of information between PDE and the institution.

Area 2. Program Information

Project Summary

In this section, the institution will provide the project overview, the grant amount

requested, and the institution’s specific plans to implement the proposed programs.

Institutions should ensure their response is detailed and provide specific examples of

how the initiative will be further developed on campus. These should also be related to

the policy recommendations of the Parent Pathways Learning Network which include

Data, Food and Housing Security, Child Care, and Financial Aid. Institutions are

encouraged to upload letters of commitment for proposed partners and how they will be

instrumental in the execution of the proposed goals/objectives. The narrative should also

address how their IHE supports their parenting learners and how they are planning to

implement or expand support in the coming year.

Goals/ Objectives

Using the table provided, the institution should choose from the dropdown menu the

criteria area that will be focused on with the grant funds requested (Criteria choices are

Parent Services Funding, Parenting Student Scholarships, Emergency Funding). After

choosing the criteria area of focus, provide goals/objectives, current baseline and

historical data, the projected outcome, and the projected amount of funds to be used for

that area.

December 2025

Area 3. Budget

Budget Narrative

In this section, the institution will provide an explanation of the budget items above and

how they relate to the objectives of your proposal. Ensure that the budget narrative

demonstrates how funds will be used equitably for supporting the highest-risk community

members.

Instruction; Purchased Professional and Technical Services; Contracted Services;

Supplies and Equipment

The budget demonstrates a fiscally sound allocation of funds to successfully provide

activities related directly to Parent Pathways initiatives. Round amounts to the nearest

whole dollar. All budgets will be reviewed to evaluate appropriateness and connection to

proposed grant activities and goals. *NOTE – If including travel expenses, please

provide a description. Please use function code 1000-Instruction and object code

of 500-Other Purchased Services for travel.

Budget Summary

The budget demonstrates fiscally-sound allocation of funds to successfully provide

activities related directly to Parent Pathways initiatives. Round amounts to the nearest

whole dollar. All budgets will be reviewed to evaluate appropriateness and connection to

proposed grant activities and goals.

Compliance Objectives

All grantees will be required to sign a grant agreement with PDE. All grant funds must be

spent, and services performed/products received on or before June 30, 2027. PDE shall

seek repayment of funds if it determines that funds were not utilized for the stated and

approved purpose. Grantees will be required to submit reports in the eGrants system on

forms supplied by PDE. Final Expenditure Reports must be submitted no later than July

31, 2027. Grantees are also expected to participate in PDE evaluation research,

including staff interviews and student surveys.

Review Process and Scoring

Applications will be reviewed on a competitive basis by a team selected by OPHE. All qualifying

applications will be reviewed and scored based on a rubric. Each application will be scored

twice by unique grant evaluators.

The criteria below will be evaluated to rank and score the applications according to the following

attributes:

Program Information Expectation: Specific and comprehensive. Addresses all criteria.

Complete, detailed, and clearly articulated information as to how criteria are met. Well-

conceived and thoroughly developed ideas. Alignment and viability of goals and objectives to

the PA Parent Pathways Learning Network recommendations.

Budget Expectation: Detailed and specific – aligns with the program information.

Program Information

Goals and Objectives 20 points

Program Information

Baseline Data

20 points

December 2025

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

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Parent Pathways Grant

Attachment Preview

See also