What is the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program?
The NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program is a scholarship and savings program that supports the college and career training futures of NYC public school students— regardless of family income or immigration status.
In partnership with our nonprofit partner, NYC Kids RISE, through the Save for College Program, every kindergarten student enrolled in a participating NYC public school (including participating charter schools) is automatically enrolled and receives an NYC Scholarship Account with an initial $100 allocation, unless their parents/guardians choose not to participate by “opting out” of the program.
The Save for College Program began as a pilot in 2017 in geography of Community School District 30, and now nearly all eligible students (~16,900 first through sixth graders) from the communities of Astoria, Long Island City, East Elmhurst, Corona, Jackson Heights, Sunnyside, and Woodside, have an NYC Scholarship Account with allocations of funds for college and career training. Visit the Save for College Program Pilot website to learn more about the pilot phase of the Save for College Program.
As part of the 2021 Juneteenth Economic Justice Plan, the City announced the expansion of the Save for College Program to all kindergarten students enrolled in NYC Public Schools (including participating charter schools) starting School Year 2021-22.
Who is qualified for this program?
Kindergarten, first grade and second grade students who:
- enrolled during the 2023-24 academic year, and
- are enrolled in a NYC Public School, including participating charter schools.
School District 30 Pilot School Students in Grades K-5
Because the Program was piloted in School District 30 starting in 2017, every kindergarten through fifth-grade student in the 39 pilot schools can participate. These pilot schools include schools within the geographic boundaries of Community School District 30, including the District 75 sites and Charter Schools. These schools are listed below.
*Parents and guardians of kindergartners, and other eligible students who are new to the Save for College Program this school year, will be able to activate and view their child’s NYC Scholarship Account starting in January 2024. Parents and guardians will be informed when their student's NYC Scholarship Account is available.
Participating Pilot Community School District 30 Schools- P.S.002 Alfred Zimberg
- P.S.011 Kathryn Phelan
- P.S.017 Henry David Thoreau
- P.S.069 Jackson Heights
- P.S.070
- P.S.076 William Hallet
- P.S./I.S.78Q
- P.S.084 Steinway
- P.S.085 Judge Charles Vallone
- P.S.092 Harry T. Stewart Sr.
- P.S.111 Jacob Blackwell
- P.S.112 Dutch Kills
- P.S.122 Mamie Fay
- P.S.127 Aerospace Science Magnet School
- P.S.148 Queens
- P.S.149 Christa Mcauliffe
- P.S.150 Queens
- P.S.151 Mary D. Carter
- P.S.152 Gwendoline N. Alleyne School
- P.S.166 Henry Gradstein
- P.S.171 Peter G. Van Alst
- P.S.212
- P.S.Q222 - Fire Fighter Christopher A. Santora School
- P.S.228 Early Childhood Magnet School of the Arts
- P.S.234
- P.S.280
- The 30th Avenue School (G&T Citywide)
- East Elmhurst Community School
- The Woodside Community School
- P.S.384
- P.S.398 The Héctor Figueroa School
Participating Pilot District 75 Schools
- The Riverview School (P277 @ Q76 and P277 @ Q78 sites only)
- P255 (Q397 site only)
- P4 (Skillman site only)
Participating Pilot Charter Schools
- Academy of the City Charter School
- Growing Up Green Charter School
- Our World Neighborhood Charter School
- Renaissance Charter School
- VOICE Charter School of New York
What is the NYC Scholarship Account?
Once a student is enrolled in the Save for College Program, NYC Kids RISE will create an NYC Scholarship Account and automatically allocate $100 for your child’s future college and career training. There are opportunities for families to get more money for their student’s NYC Scholarship Account over time.* Community organizations, businesses, neighbors, and others can contribute money to groups of students’ NYC Scholarship Accounts through Community Scholarships to demonstrate the community’s support for every child’s success.
NYC Kids RISE, a nonprofit organization, owns and manages the scholarship funds on behalf of participating students. NYC Kids RISE invests the funds in the NY 529 Direct Plan, a type of investment account specifically created for college and career savings that can be used for a variety of higher education expenses.
*Parents and guardians of kindergartners, and other eligible students who are new to the Save for College Program this school year, will be able to activate and view their child’s NYC Scholarship Account starting in January 2024. Parents and guardians will be informed when their student's NYC Scholarship Account is available.
How is the NYC Scholarship Account created?
NYC Kids RISE will create an account in each student’s name if and when they receive information from NYC Public Schools (NYC PS) about each participating student and their parent/guardian(s). Visit the NYC Kids RISE Frequently Asked Questions page for more details.
What information will be shared if a student takes part in the scholarship portion of the program?
NYC PS will only share what is known as “Directory Information” about students and their parents/guardians.
Directory Information for Students Includes
- A student identification number unique to the program
- Full name
- Birthdate
- Home address
- Whether the home address changes
- Home phone number
- School name
- Current grade level
- Language(s) spoken at home
- Transfers made to other schools, if any, both inside and outside the NYC public school system
Directory Information for Parents/Guardians Includes:
- Parent identification numbers unique to the program
- Full name
- Email address
- Cell and/or other phone number
Who gets the Directory Information?
NYC Kids RISE and VistaShare, a data management company.
How can NYC Kids RISE and VistaShare use the Directory Information?
They are only allowed to use or share Directory Information to run and evaluate their program. Neither organization is allowed to sell, use, or share the Directory Information for advertising, marketing, or other commercial purposes. NYC Kids RISE follows strict privacy and confidentiality guidelines for all family information. In fact, they need our approval before sharing Directory Information with anyone else.
After your student has been enrolled in the program, NYC Kids RISE will also use this information to contact you about the Save for College Program. Participating families can update the contact information provided to NYC Kids RISE and unsubscribe from certain kinds of communications by clicking “unsubscribe” when you receive emails from NYC Kids RISE.
What rules are there about sharing student information?
A federal law called the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act prevents NYC Public Schools from sharing a student’s personally identifiable information without permission from a parent or guardian. However, unless parents/guardians tell us not to, the NYC Public Schools can share Directory Information about them and their student.
If you are looking for opt out information, please continue to the “How do Parents/Guardians opt out of the Program?” section.
What do parents/guardians have to do to receive an NYC Scholarship Account for their student?
Parents/guardians do not have to do anything for their student to receive an NYC Scholarship Account. Eligible students are automatically enrolled in the Program and receive a free NYC Scholarship Account unless their parent/guardian chooses not to participate by opting out. Each NYC Scholarship Account comes with an initial $100 allocation of funds. Parents/guardians do not have to provide any money of their own to get this account.
Can a student receive funds from NYC Kids RISE and not share their information?
Unfortunately, no. NYC Kids RISE and VistaShare need that information in order to run the scholarship account portion of the program.
How do parents/guardians opt out of the program?
To tell your school that you do not want your child to be enrolled in the Save for College Program, you must return a signed opt-out form or opt out in your NYC Schools Account within a 30-day period. The opt-out period may differ between students and is based on when the student was enrolled in school.
The initial opt-out period begins on November 1 for the 2023-24 school year. After the opt-out period has begun visit the NYC Schools Account(Open external link) to opt out. After logging in to your NYC Schools Account, look at the main screen with all of the tiles. Click on the “Forms” tile, then click on the “view” button on the next page that is next to “NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program.” After this you can review program information and will have relevant options available towards the bottom of the page.
If you do not use NYC Schools Account, you can also obtain a personalized opt-out notice and form from your school, sign and submit it to your school secretary. Speak to your school’s Parent Coordinator for more information. You may also email savingtogether@schools.nyc.gov with questions.
What if I want to change my student’s participation after their opt-out period has ended?
After your student’s opt-out period has ended, you may still make changes to their program participation by visiting your NYC Schools Account. If you do not use your NYC Schools Account, you can also obtain a Participation Status Change form from your school, sign and submit it to your school secretary. Speak to your school parent coordinator for more information.
When will my student’s account be available?
NYC Kids RISE will notify you directly when your student’s account is available to be activated and viewed. Participating families will receive a Welcome Email and Welcome Booklet via postal mail with instructions and information once their accounts are ready to be activated and viewed. Visit the NYC Kids RISE website for more information.
I have a question that hasn’t been answered. Where can I find more information?
Your student’s school and this page will also share guidance and updates over the year. You may also email savingtogether@schools.nyc.gov with questions.
Visit the NYC Kids RISE Frequently Asked Questions page for more program information.
Contact our nonprofit partners at NYC Kids RISE at 833-543-7473 or by emailing them at info@nyckidsrise.org if you have questions about:
- The types of investments the account uses
- The steps you can take to receive more allocations to your student's NYC Scholarship Account
- Matching money
- Qualification
- Participation
- Other Program-related questions