Senior child development major Jessica Ramirez has spent seven years in college because of her duties as not only a student and employee, but also a parent.

Ramirez describes her life as being busy with homework, while studying is the last priority finished behind taking care of her child, if it even gets done.

“If you’re at school, you’re thinking about what your kid is doing while they’re away from you,” Ramirez said. “Even when you’re in class, you’re not really focused.”

Student parents can leave their children at the Children’s Center on campus, which is funded through federal grants by Associated Students Inc., which also directs funding to assist payments for child care based on parent’s income and status as either a part-time or full time student.

Ramirez has all of her fees taken care of because she makes less than other students who are able to work more.

The Sacramento Valley Association for the Education of Young Children is dedicated to increasing the skills of people striving to become teachers to improve the quality of child care. The national institution has been around for 50 years and the Sacramento branch was built about 30 years ago.

“We do not only get children up and moving, but also allow them to have the experience of learning different fundamental things like counting, language development, letters, sounds and music,” Board Member Mariah Norwoud said.

Graduate student Erica Frederiksen said it is more than a full-time commitment coordinating study time with her two daughters while in the teaching credential program. She was a part-time student while her daughters were infants because she wanted more time with them, but leaves her girls at the Children’s Center so she can finish school quicker by taking more than 20 units a semester.

“Usually I’m behind on assignments,” Frederiksen said. “I rely a lot on support from my parents and in-laws to kind of help them have somewhat of a childhood while I’m going through this program.”

Frederiksen said the Children’s Center helps take care of her children while she takes evening class. Even with the services the center offers her, she still has to take her 4-year-old daughter to evening classes, because no one else is able to look after her once the center closes at 6 p.m.

Child Action Inc. offers students with an interest in child development an early learning a program called Comprehensive Approaches to Raising Educational Standards. The program helps Sac State students with an annual stipend from $1,900 to $3,000 for working at least 15 hours a week in a child care field, said Child Care Specialist Julie Ball.

Ball said Child Action also gives students at Sac State the possibility to afford child care so they can continue going to school while their children are being taken care of.

Frederiksen has been an on-and-off student since 2003. She was part-time for the first eight years because children were infants, but has been full-time for the past three years.

“If you’re a student and you know you’re going to be a student, then don’t plan on having a child until you’re done, “ Frederiksen said.

Ramirez had a child when she was a sophomore at Sac State in 2007, with her grades being  consistent A’s and B’s at the time. She noticed her grades drop and time spent in college lengthen since she had her child.

“As a parent or a student, you don’t sleep,” Ramirez said. “When you combine them both, it goes on so much more.”