KEYSTONE CONNECTIONS

April 2026

Spring is a season of renewal and growth, making it the perfect time to plant the seeds of future opportunity. Even small savings started early can grow into something powerful, helping children build a strong foundation for education beyond high school.

Keystone Scholars gives Pennsylvania children a head start with a $100 scholarship, encouraging families to think long term, build good financial habits, and imagine new possibilities for their child’s future.

Keystone Scholars by the Numbers

Data as of 3/31/26

$10 Million in Scholarships Claimed!

In early 2026, Treasury’s Keystone Scholars program reached an exciting milestone. More than 100,000 families have claimed their child’s $100 scholarship – totaling $10 million to help cover future education expenses. Families are also taking meaningful steps to save for their children’s futures, with those contributing to a companion PA 529 account investing more than $200 million toward future education goals.

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Partner Spotlight

Our work is strengthened every day by dedicated partners across Pennsylvania. In this section, we highlight organizations whose efforts help expand the reach and impact of Keystone Scholars.

PA One Book

Pennsylvania One Book, an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office of Commonwealth Libraries, promotes early literacy by providing books to libraries and early learning centers.

This year’s selection, The Great Cookie Kerfuffle, written by Jessica Shaw and illustrated by Pauline Gregory, is being shared statewide with information on how to claim Keystone Scholars accounts inside each book. In addition, 40,000 co-branded bookmarks have been distributed to further expand outreach. Treasurer Garrity would welcome an opportunity to read The Great Cookie Kerfuffle at schools or events in your area. Please reach out to Karen McDermott at kmcdermott@patreasury.gov for more information.

Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)

Treasury recently hosted a special session for grantees of Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance Programs (HSSAP) and distributed 10,000 brochures and additional resources to nearly 100 programs.

Pre-K Counts provides free, high-quality pre-kindergarten for eligible three- and four-year-olds, while HSSAP expands access to comprehensive Head Start services, including education, health, nutrition, and family engagement. Together, these programs strengthen school readiness and help set children on a path toward long‑term success.

Neighborhood Allies, Fund My Future PGH

Treasury is partnering with Neighborhood Allies and their Fund My Future PGH (FMF) program to help more Allegheny County families claim their Keystone Scholars accounts and begin saving early.

Through its Power Their Future initiative, Neighborhood Allies will contribute a $25 bonus into the Keystone Scholars accounts of Allegheny County children whose families:

• Claim their Keystone Scholars account, and
• Enroll in Fund My Future PGH between May 1 and July 31, 2026.

This initiative is designed to motivate families to take the important first step of claiming their child’s $100 scholarship from Keystone Scholars, while connecting them to ongoing savings opportunities through FMF’s children’s savings model.

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CSAs in the News

This quarter, Treasury joined CSA leaders from across the country to share strategies for increasing participation, growing family contributions, and advancing early wealth-building efforts.

Treasury continues to be a leader in the administration of CSA programs by participating in various convenings to explore evidence-based strategies and emerging theories to ensure that children can build assets for a brighter financial future.

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Outreach Team

Treasury welcomes Janice Socha as the new Northwest PA Regional Program Relationship Manager. Jan brings years of experience in outreach, program support, training, financial education, and coalition building to Treasury.

Prior to joining Treasury, Jan had a 24-year federal career as an analyst with the Internal Revenue Service, where she worked with volunteers, non-profits, and other stakeholders nationwide to deliver the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs.

When not at work, you’ll usually find Jan hiking with her dog in Pennsylvania’s beautiful forests.

Jan is excited to work with partners to raise awareness of Keystone Scholars accounts and the importance of education savings in building brighter futures for Pennsylvania’s children.

If you are in Northwest PA, you can reach Jan at jsocha@patreasury.gov.

Treasury has outreach staff throughout the Commonwealth to support you at community fairs, educational events, civic meetings and more. To schedule a visit with our outreach team or request event materials, please contact Karen McDermott, Manager of Children's Savings Accounts, at kmcdermott@patreasury.gov.