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District 25 leaders push Save for College account outreach; parents raise questions about financial aid implications
Summary
Superintendent Michael Dantona proposed adding the city's Save for College program to the district comprehensive education plan to boost activation of $100 starter accounts for K–3 students; parents asked about 529 rules and financial aid treatment, and staff described outreach and incentives but uptake remains low.
Superintendent Michael Dantona said he wants District 25 to promote the city's Save for College initiative and asked parent leaders for feedback on making it a district goal to increase family participation.
"Unfortunately, right now, we only have a little over 30% of our families that take advantage of it," Michael Dantona said, describing the district's desire to increase enrollment. He told the Title I DPAC that the city program provides a starter amount to students' accounts when families activate them and that the district would focus on awareness and informational events to boost participation.
Parents at the meeting raised questions about how the accounts function and how they might affect college financial aid. Wendy, a parent, said she had attended seminars and noted a common concern: "...these college account[s]...when you apply for colleges, it's...an asset for the family. Right? And then...you may not qualify for certain grants or scholarship or whatever." Leah Geronimo asked whether the accounts are 529 plans or a different vehicle; district staff responded that they would confirm technical differences but said the program generally functions as a college savings account.
Jenny Chang and other staff described activation incentives discussed at the meeting: an initial $100 credited to an activated account, an additional $25 after a first deposit, and an additional $25 for linking a 529 account, as explained by meeting participants. One speaker also said the city could provide $175 if families follow the steps described; meeting remarks contained slightly different tallies across speakers, and staff did not present a single consolidated brochure at the meeting.
Staff said the program rollout began roughly three years earlier for kindergarten students and has been extended gradually to first through third grades; District 25 staff said the city is expanding eligibility year by year so that eventually all incoming kindergarten classes will receive accounts over time. A parent noted that older children whose grades predate the program are not currently eligible unless the city extends the initiative.
District staff and parent leaders discussed outreach options, including school-based workshops, voting-party events and informational sessions at schools. Superintendent Dantona said he would include the outreach goal in the district comprehensive education plan so the district could coordinate informational events but emphasized that participation would remain a parent choice.
The district did not report any immediate policy change or mandate; at the meeting the outcome was direction to include outreach and awareness in district planning and to follow up with more precise details on account mechanics and any impacts on financial aid eligibility.
