April 2024
April is Financial Literacy Month
April is Financial Literacy Month, and it’s a great time to remind families of the free $100 investment their children have in a Keystone Scholars account for post-high school training and education. As you interact with families, please encourage them to claim and register their child’s account. To start their own savings journey, families can open a companion PA 529 College and Career Savings Program account and link it to their child’s Keystone Scholars account to watch their savings grow!
Keystone Scholars Fast Facts:
| Total accounts funded: | 650,789 |
| Percentage of babies with accounts funded (since January 1, 2019): |
100% |
| Total accounts registered: | 73,545 |
| Percentage of registered accounts with linked PA 529: | 25.25% |
| Cumulative contributions of accounts with linked PA 529: | $90,914,566.16 |
2024-2025 Kindergarten Registration
We’ve created a Keystone Scholars registration form that you can include in your school registration process. This form explains what Keystone Scholars is and how to claim an account. There is a link embedded which takes parents directly to the Keystone Scholars registration page.
How you can help
- Encourage families to register by providing an external link in kindergarten and school registration materials; and
- Inform families about Keystone Scholars through social media postings, posters, brochures or bookmarks.
Partner Spotlights
On March 28, 2024, Treasurer Garrity and her staff visited the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Karabots Pediatric Care Center to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Keystone Scholars. CHOP has been a strong supporter of Keystone Scholars since 2021 and helps promote the program in various ways to its patients.
“We’re proud to work with great partners like Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who have always put the health and wellbeing of Pennsylvania’s children and families first,” Treasurer Garrity said. “Children’s Savings Accounts like Keystone Scholars can make a big difference for children and help them reach their goals. CHOP works with thousands of families with children who are eligible for Keystone Scholars, so their work to help spread the word is impactful.”
“CHOP has a long history of innovating to improve the health of the patients we serve,” said Dr. George Dalembert, Director of CHOP’s Medical Financial Partnership (MFP). “Through the work of the MFP, we continue in that tradition by expanding the factors that help children achieve their full health potential. Health is inextricably tied to financial wellness, and education pays. Promoting Keystone Scholars, an evidence-informed intervention, is a great way to invest in helping children attain their best health.”
Located in West Philadelphia, Karabots Pediatric Care Center opened in 2013 and is the biggest provider of primary care services in CHOP’s network with more than 35 doctors and 56 examination rooms. Karabots also supports many community programs to enhance wellness for children and families.
CSAs in the News
401Kids Savings Act
On January 31, 2024, Senator Bob Casey introduced Senate Bill 3716, entitled “401Kids Savings Account Act of 2024.” Senator Casey’s 401Kids proposal hails Keystone Scholars as a “model for national 401Kids” and aims to build lifelong wealth and economic self-sufficiency for kids and families with limited resources. Similar to Keystone Scholars, 401Kids accounts would be built on state 529 college savings platforms and managed by state treasurers. You can read more about Senator Casey’s bill here.
Our Outreach Team is Growing!
PA Treasury welcomed Larry Booker as its new Central PA Regional Relationship Program Manager. He has over 15 years of experience in customer service and client relations. Larry worked as a customer service representative in our call center for six years, assisting hundreds of parents register their Keystone Scholars accounts. Prior to joining PA Treasury, he was a supervisor at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency where he managed a team of 20 Guarantor/Insurer Relations representatives. Larry, and his fellow outreach team members, are available to work with you at your community events and gatherings to help grow Keystone Scholars awareness and registrations. You can reach Larry at lbooker@patreasury.gov.
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