KEYSTONE CONNECTIONS

"Every great dream begins with a seed. Plant it well and nurture it, and it will germinate into something extraordinary." – Julie Andrews

As spring arrives with its promise of new beginnings, Keystone Scholars is dedicated to planting the seeds of opportunity for the families of Pennsylvania and aims to cultivate a brighter future for every child. Keystone Scholars is not just about financial contributions; it's about helping parents maintain high expectations for their child’s future; creating a future-focused identity in children; and prompting parents to start saving as early as possible to give funds the longest time to grow. We are grateful to our partners who help us in this mission by providing resources, services and support.

Keystone Scholars by the Numbers

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Partner Spotlight

WIC

We continue to deepen our partnership with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) throughout the state. The WIC Shoppers App now includes Keystone Scholars information! WIC participants will see a banner on the bottom of the app which allows them to click through to the Keystone Scholars website where they can claim their child’s account.

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CSAs in the News

CSA Forum

The National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) College Savings Plans Network (CSPN) Children’s Savings Account (CSA) Working Group, co-chaired by Julie Peachey, Pennsylvania’s Deputy Treasurer for Consumer Programs hosted a CSA Forum in March which brought together 529 plan administrators, policymakers, and community leaders in the CSA space. Michael Sherraden, author of “Assets and the Poor” and who is credited with pioneering the concept of Children's Savings Accounts (CSAs), also participated in the forum.

The forum highlighted the growing momentum of CSA programs. Emphasis was placed on the universal and inclusive design of CSAs, which aims to enhance educational outcomes, promote financial empowerment, and address wealth disparities across generations. Attendees exchanged ideas, shared best practices, and explored innovative strategies to ensure that children nationwide have the opportunity to build a brighter financial future. This forum was made possible with the generous support of the Mott Foundation.

CSA Programs Increasing Across the County

Momentum for CSAs continues to build with both Wisconsin and Minnesota taking steps to expand opportunities for children’s future success. In Wisconsin, bipartisan legislation has been introduced to create WisKids, a statewide CSA program that would provide a $25 seed deposit to every child born or adopted in the state. Minnesota recently introduced the MinneKIDS Act which, if passed, would establish a statewide CSA for every newborn or newly adopted child with options for local partners to receive grants to support community-level program development. These proposals recognize that early, universal, and inclusive investments can improve access to education, promote financial empowerment, and reduce wealth gaps across generations.

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Outreach Events

PA Treasury has outreach staff throughout the Commonwealth available to support you at community fairs, educational events, or civic meetings. Together, we can create brighter futures by raising awareness about Keystone Scholars’ free $100 investment and the importance of saving for education. By working closely with community members, we aim to make education savings more accessible and achievable for all families.

To schedule a visit with our Outreach Team or request event materials, contact Karen McDermott, Manager of Children's Savings Accounts at kmcdermott@patreasury.gov.