This post is part of a sponsored campaign with ScholarShare, the 529 College Savings Account.
It’s that time of year again! ScholarShare 529 College Savings Plan is awarding $300,000 in Scholar Dollars grant money to California k-8 public schools! Schools, including charter schools, can apply for grants up to $30,000 to fund after-school and extracurricular activities. But you must act quickly; the application deadline is March 7th.
Last year was the first year of the Scholar Dollars program and it was very successful. In 2017, 390 schools across the state registered and more than 411,000 votes were cast. The grant awards funded 80 new Chromebooks for Alfred B. Nobel Charter Middle School in Northridge and sent a classroom of 5th graders at Village School in Campbell to science camp. Shannon Ranch Elementary School in Visalia built a much-needed running track.
“We’re thrilled with the success of last year’s grant program and look forward to presenting 20 more grants to California schools that are creating exceptional programs that enrich the educational experience for students,” said California State Treasurer John Chiang. “Our hope is that students and parents also begin to think about their plans for a higher education and start saving early for the future.”
Scholar Dollars is administered by ScholarShare 529, California’s college savings plan. The program recognizes the critical role that California schools play in preparing students for college success by providing essential extracurricular programs that foster college-going cultures on their campuses.
Applying for a Scholar Dollars grant is easy. A school administrator, teacher or PTA president can enroll a school in a matter of minutes. All eligible K-8 public and charter schools in California are already uploaded to the Scholar Dollars website, so enrollment is as simple as selecting your school from the list, entering your contact information and describing the program your school wants funded. The registration period is open now through March 7, 2018.
Once a school is registered and approved to participate in the grant program, it will be included during the voting period. Encouraging your community to vote during this time is a critical part of the process because the more votes your school receives, the better positioned it is to win a grant.
Make sure and register your school and apply ASAP. To apply, schools must register online at ScholarDollars.com. The voting period begins on March 12th and goes through March 23rd.
This post is part of a sponsored campaign with ScholarShare, the 529 College Savings Account.
