School Partner Resources
NYC Kids RISE manages the Save for College Program in partnership with the City of New York, NYC Public Schools (NYC PS), and each participating school. Schools are the entry point for families and students into the Save for College Program and play a key role by sharing information with families, supporting them to complete the foundational steps, and integrating the Program into school college and career readiness efforts. This page provides information, tools, and resources to help your school incorporate and customize the Save for College Program in your school community.
Happening now:
Please note: Kindergarten families and any new first and second grade who enrolled in your school between April 1, 2023, and November 1, 2023, will be able to activate and view their children’s NYC Scholarship Accounts in January 2024, after the Initial Opt-out Period in November.
Program Overview
Program Milestones and Calendar
During the school year, the Program is structured around four key milestones:
- Education Period (followed by the Initial Opt-out Period)
- NYC Scholarship Month
- 529 Day
- K Graduation
Through these milestones, schools can support eligible families to learn about the Program, make an informed decision if they are considering opting out of the Program, and then take action once their children’s NYC Scholarship Accounts are available to activate and view, including earning rewards for their children’s NYC Scholarship Accounts. Read the 2023-24 Save for College Program Calendar for more details about each one.
Opt-out Process (beginning November 1st, 2023)
Parents/guardians have the opportunity to opt out of receiving an NYC Scholarship Account. Kindergarten and any new first or second grade students who enrolled in a participating school between April 1 and November 1, 2023, will be automatically enrolled in the Save for College Program unless their parents/guardians choose to “opt out.” To ensure families understand the Program before making a decision, schools should share the following materials with all newly eligible families: Program Basics and Frequently Asked Questions and the Save for College Program introductory video.
For the 2023-2024 school year, the Initial Opt-out Period begins on November 1 and ends on November 30. If a family opts out, they will not receive an NYC Scholarship Account, they will not receive the initial $100 allocation, and their student’s data will not be shared with NYC Kids RISE and the technology vendor VistaShare.
Parents/guardians who want to participate in the Program simply take NO ACTION during the Initial Opt-out Period.
More information about the opt-out process can be found at the following links:
- District Schools: Save for College Program page on InfoHub (question #11)
- Charter Schools: Charter Hub
Rolling Opt-out: Kindergarten, first, and second grade students who enroll in a participating school after the Initial Opt-out Period has started (on or after November 1st, 2023), will still have the opportunity to participate in, or opt out of, the Program, but they are not part of the “Initial” Opt-out Period. Starting November 2nd, 2023, personalized Opt-out Notice and Forms will automatically print at your school, via ATS printers, as new students become eligible for the Program during the 2023–24 school year; please ensure families of new students receive these letters.
Toolkits for School Staff
Toolkits for School Staff
These toolkits provide materials and resources that school staff can use to support students and families to participate in the Save for College Program, build excitement about the Program, and integrate it into their college and career readiness efforts. The Building Block 1 Toolkit contains resources for school staff to engage participating families to activate and view their NYC Scholarship Accounts.
Professional Learning Sessions for School Staff
Throughout the school year, NYC Kids RISE hosts virtual Professional Learning Sessions to support school staff as they customize and integrate the Save for College Program in their school operations and communities. School Liaisons are strongly encouraged to attend all Professional Learning Sessions. Details and registration links for upcoming sessions can be found below:
Save for College Program Report
The Save for College Program Report is a useful tool that allows school staff to track how many participating families at their schools have activated and viewed their children’s NYC Scholarship Accounts (Building Block 1). If you have questions about the report, please email [email protected]. The report is updated weekly on Mondays.
How to access the report:
- District Schools: Principals can share access to this report using the Role Access Assignment feature in Galaxy; the role is listed within the School Functions menu under Save for College Program. After your assignment, Liaisons will be granted access to the report on a rolling basis.If you were assigned by your Principal and have not gained access within a week, please email [email protected].
- Charter Schools: Once Save for College Program Liaisons are identified, Liaisons will receive an email notification with the subject, “Daniel Simoes has shared Power BI Report ‘Save for College Program Report’ with you.” For any Liaisons assigned after the Letter of Partnership deadline, access will be granted on a rolling basis. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email [email protected].
Family Workshop Flyers
Throughout the school year, NYC Kids RISE hosts virtual, multilingual events and workshops geared toward parents and guardians of students who are eligible to participate in the Save for College Program. Click below for workshop flyers that can be backpacked home and shared with families!
Additional Resources
Charter School Resources
Additional information and resources specific to charter schools is available here: nyckidsrise.org/charterhub
Questions?
If you are a District School and have questions about the Save For College Program, please email us at [email protected].
If you are a participating Charter School and have questions about the Program, please email us at [email protected].