Dear Parent or Guardian,

Welcome to the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program! Your child now has a free NYC Scholarship Account.

The Save for College Program is a scholarship and savings program that supports the college and career futures of NYC public school students. The Program starts in kindergarten. You can participate no matter what your family income or immigration status is.

What it means to be enrolled in the Save for College Program:

NYC Scholarship Account – Your child has a free NYC Scholarship Account! NYC Kids RISE manages the NYC Scholarship Account on their behalf. Your child can use the money in this account for their future education. It can be used for tuition and other qualified education-related expenses. It can be used at eligible two- and four-year colleges, trade and vocational schools, and apprenticeship programs across the country.

Open Your Own College and Career Savings Account – Your family can open and connect a college and career savings account for the benefit of your child. With this account, you can save for your child in ways and amounts that make sense for you. There are multiple savings account options available through the Save for College Program. We have resources to help you make the right choice for your family.

Scholarship Rewards and Matched Savings – Your family can receive up to $200 in rewards for your child’s NYC Scholarship Account. This is in addition to the initial $100 allocation. Receive the first $75 by completing the three foundational steps. These steps are called the “3 Building Blocks.” You can receive $25 for completing each step. After your child graduates from kindergarten, you will have an opportunity to receive $100 in matched savings.

Virtual Events and Workshops – Visit nyckidsrise.org/events to register for virtual events and workshops held throughout the year. You can also ask your school about school-based events in the upcoming school year.

Community Scholarships – Your family is now part of the Save for College Program Community! That means your community and the entire city will be working together to raise funds through Community Scholarship campaigns. These funds support your child’s NYC Scholarship Account.

Helpful Resources:

Learn about the next steps you can take with the Save for College Program to increase your child’s funds for college and career training. All of these materials are available in English, Arabic, Bengali, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish.

1. Save for College Program Basics explains the main components of the Program;
2. Journey Planner helps you track your family’s progress in the Program;
3. Frequently Asked Questions can answer questions you may have; and
4. Building Block 1 Completion Checklist for activating and viewing your child’s NYC Scholarship Account. Activate it online and receive your first $25 reward.

If you have any questions, you can: contact your child’s school; call our NYC Kids RISE hotline at 833-543-7473; or email us at [email protected].

We are excited to be partnering with you to save together for your child’s future! This is just the beginning.

Sincerely yours,

Debra-Ellen Glickstein
Founding Executive Director
NYC Kids RISE