Two new programs for student parents launched this fall at the Alamo Colleges District.
In August, the nonprofit AVANCE-San Antonio opened a Head Start program at Palo Alto College. And, in September, AVANCE started a class for prospective student parents at San Antonio College.
At a ceremony on Wednesday, officials with the city, the nonprofit, and the community college system celebrated both programs, and their potential to help reduce inter-generational poverty.
“This is the power of a two-generation approach. When we support parents, we uplift families. And when families thrive, our community thrives,” San Antonio College President Francisco Solis said.
Alamo Colleges Chancellor Mike Flores echoed that point.
“We’re creating spaces through these two initiatives where education becomes a shared family journey. Parents can pursue their degrees with the confidence that their children are learning, growing and thriving alongside them,” Flores said.
“We know childcare remains one of the greatest needs for our students and, indeed, many of our neighbors, but partnerships like this one with AVANCE help us close that gap,” he added.
According to Flores, nearly 20% of students enrolled in the Alamo Colleges are parents.
The Head Start program at Palo Alto College is part of a national initiative to increase the number of Head Start classes located on community college campuses called Kids on Campus.
But, according to AVANCE Executive Director Yesenia Alvarez-Gonzalez, it’s the first one located in Texas.
“This partnership bridges higher education and early learning in a way that has never been done before in our state,” Alvarez-Gonzales said. “It’s a model of how we can support student parents, strengthen families, and break the cycle of poverty through education.”
Alvarez-Gonzalez said the Palo Alto Head Start already has 100 kids on its wait list.