Before beginning her studies last week, 37-year-old Irena Butcher dropped her daughter off at pre-school. She returned for a visit a few hours later, grabbed a hug, read a few chapters of Dr. Seuss, then headed back to classes that could stretch well into the evening.

Through it all, she never had to leave campus.

Borough of Manhattan Community College’s Early Childhood Center offers a lifeline for student-parents with high-quality childcare available daytime and evenings, including on weekends. And thanks to a sliding scale and multiple funding streams, parents never pay more than $35 a week.

Former Secretary of Education John B. King, now president and CEO of The Education Trust, talks about his passion for giving all learners, particularly those in poverty and prisons, access to higher education.

King also reflects on how his personal experiences, his time in the federal government, and his work as an education advocate drive him to help students who just need a chance to succeed.