August 2023
New Spanish-language KS Registration Video Now Available
Furthering Treasury’s commitment to increase awareness of Keystone Scholars throughout the Commonwealth, we have produced a registration video for Spanish-speaking parents so they can easily activate their child’s Keystone Scholars account. Please share this video with any of your clients and constituents who would benefit from the Keystone Scholars information in Spanish.
Updated KS Newborn Flyer – Accompanies all PA Birth Certificate Mailings
Keystone Scholars messaging is included with the PA Department of Health’s birth certificate mailings to families of newborns. The birth certificate mailing arrives to parents about three (3) weeks following the child’s birth. Treasury has redesigned this informational mailing with clearer messaging and branding that is in sync with the program’s latest marketing materials. Check with your audiences to make sure that they received this mailing and know about KS!
Keystone Scholars is Searching for Champions! Will it be Your Organization?
We are calling on organizations dedicated to the enrichment of PA’s children to spark interest in serving as a Keystone Scholars Champion. Champion organizations can help with awareness regarding KS and can solidify their support by helping grow educational savings for kid-cohorts they determine. Funding can connect with pre-set milestones like; educational achievements, health markers, parental support, educational growth, community involvement and more. If your organization is interested in leading educational support for children in your community, please review this newly designed Champion Flyer to learn more.
To have a consultative discussion with someone from Treasury’s outreach team, message Director of Outreach and Marketing, Barbara Holbert, bholbert@patreasury.gov and she will be happy to connect you with an outreach team member in your market. We are looking forward to working together by creating a Champion Funder Program that works for your organization’s mission and will grow Keystone Scholars funds…creating an optimistic educational future.
Read about the funding commitment of this faith-based Champion.
Partner Spotlight: Reading School District
The Reading School District (RSD) has been an especially enthusiastic Champion and developed its own marketing materials and awareness campaign to promote the Keystone Scholars program for its community of “Red Knights”. Working with Dr. Shanchez and his team has been a great model for Keystone Scholars to look to work with additional school districts in PA.
RSD offers Treasury opportunities to interact with their academic community. This spring Treasury deployed outreach team members to attend kindergarten registrations across the RSD and will be returning to present to parents this fall during “Back to School” nights and other family-focused events.
Our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Shanchez, the team of dedicated administrators, teachers and support staff in Reading! You are truly Keystone Scholars Champions!
CDAs in the News
My Alfond Grant – Maine
In 2023, Maine’s My Alfond Grant marks 10 years of automatically enrolling all resident newborns into the United States’ first statewide, universal Child Development Account (CDA).1 The My Alfond Grant Program—originally called the Harold Alfond College Challenge2 —was the vision of Maine businessman and philanthropist Harold Alfond. Mr. Alfond wanted every Maine child to have the opportunities that higher education can bring, and he wanted to ensure economic prosperity for the state through a more educated workforce.
Learn more about the My Alfond Grant CDA.
Building Assets & Aspirations: A Playbook for Integrating College Promise Programs and Children’s Savings Accounts
In pursuit of expanding a more integrated approach across communities and families, College Promise engaged with several key leaders to gather their perspectives on fostering a more inclusive college-bound culture in their respective states. The 2023 playbook, showcasing the remarkable efforts underway in California, pioneered by the California Child Savings Coalition and the Northern California College Promise Coalition, Pennsylvania, developed by the Keystone Scholars Program, and, Maine, spearheaded by The Alfond Scholarship Foundation is available here. The case studies highlight the pressing demand for statewide integration of CPCSA programs, as well as the pivotal role played by well-established partnerships with local institutions in coordinating resources and providing opportunities to underserved youth.
PA 529 College & Career Savings Plans
Keystone Scholars is a great way to help parents get into the mindset of education savings. Pennsylvania has two 529 College & Career Savings Plans Available. These plans can be linked to Keystone Scholars accounts and families can watch them grow side by side. Treasury has data available on registration and linking rates here.
PA 529 accounts are designed to help PA families steadily and strategically save for future educational expenses. Treasury offers two plans; the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan, which allows you to save at today’s tuition rates to meet tomorrow’s tuition costs, and the Morningstar Sliver rated PA 529 Investment Plan that offers a variety of investment options. PA 529 plans have significant state and federal tax advantages and can be used for a wide variety of qualifying technical, collegiate, apprenticeship and K-12 educational expenses. To learn more, visit pa529.com or call (800) 440-4000.
Keystone Scholars Partner Resources
Our website has partner resources and supplies, such as print, video, PowerPoint slides and e-resources, or you can contact us for in-person and virtual presentations. Let us help the kids in your community start their savings journey!
View Resources View Partners