Harlem’s P.S. 146 Celebrates Annual Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony

In East Harlem, P.S. 146 Ann M. Short hosted their kindergarten moving up ceremony where students and families heard from school leadership.

The students heard from school leadership about how their community is working together through the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program to support students’ college and career dreams so they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up. 

At P.S. 146 Ann M. Short, 139 kindergartens through second-grade students have NYC Scholarship Accounts with $41,709 invested for their college and career future thanks to the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program. 

Through the Program nearly every kindergarten, first and second-grade student in NYC public schools (including participating charter schools) has a free NYC Scholarship Account starting with an initial $100 for college and career training. Citywide, more than 200,000 elementary school students have NYC Scholarship Accounts with more than $30 million invested for their future college and career training. 

Funds in children’s NYC Scholarship Accounts are invested by NYC Kids RISE in a 529 account. Families have opportunities to receive additional rewards over time by completing foundational steps in the Program and through Community Scholarships. 

Integrating the Program into end-of-year celebratory activities allows families to connect this early academic milestone with students’ paths toward college and career training. Schools support families to activate and view their students’ NYC Scholarship Accounts to receive their first additional $25 reward and learn about how the Save for College Program is supporting their children’s college and career training in the future.

Questions about your child’s account? Families can reach out to their school, email NYC Kids RISE at info@nyckidsrise.org, or call the NYC Kids RISE hotline at 833-543-7473.

NYC Kids RISE is a nonprofit organization managing the Save for College Program in partnership with NYC Public Schools and the City of New York. In the fall of 2017, the Save for College Program launched as a pilot in the communities of Queens School District 30 through a partnership between NYC Kids RISE, the NYC Department of Education, and the City of New York, with founding and ongoing support from the Gray Foundation. Starting in the 2021-2022 school year, and every year going forward, students in eligible grades enrolled in an NYC public elementary school (including participating charter schools) automatically receive an NYC Scholarship Account invested in a 529 account with an initial $100 and opportunities to earn more through early rewards, unless their families choose not to participate.

Photo credit: 1-5) P.S. 146 Ann M. Short kindergarteners. 6) P.S. 146 Ann M. Short Special Education Lead Kisha Shoulders and Kindergarten teacher Erin Pilipczak at the school’s kindergarten moving up ceremony.