Students at New World Preparatory Charter School, Port Richmond, learned how to activate their NYC Scholarship to prepare for higher education.(Courtesy of NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program)
IN CLASS: This feature is part of an ongoing education column highlighting the various activities that engage school communities.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A program run by a New York-based nonprofit allows families across New York City with kindergarten, first-, second- and third-graders to activate a scholarship account to help prepare their children for their future in higher education — and a Staten Island school is helping its families get started with the opportunity.
New World Preparatory Charter School hosted a celebration and workshop earlier this year for parents and guardians of students opening NYC Scholarship Accounts through the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program.
The Port Richmond school’s family coordinator Mildred Curley led the workshop to help families activate and view their children’s scholarship accounts for the very first time.
The school worked with families to give them the tools to add more funds to their child's scholarship accounts.(Courtesy of NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program)
NYC Kids RISE, a non-profit organization that manages the Save for College Program in partnership with the city Department of Education, announced that more than $42 million has been invested into NYC Scholarship Accounts, as of January.
Starting in the 2021-2022 school year — and every year since — 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.
The accounts come with an initial $100.(Courtesy of NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program)
The account comes with an initial $100 and opportunities to earn more through early rewards, unless their family chooses not to participate.
Students can also receive additional funds in their NYC Scholarship Accounts through Community Scholarships, contributions to groups of accounts from local businesses, community organizations and neighbors.
According to the organization, every kindergarten, first-, second- and third-grade student enrolled in city public schools is eligible to participate, no matter their family income or immigration status.
The charter school worked with families to activate the accounts and other perks.(Courtesy of NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program)
The charter school team worked with families to activate and view their students’ accounts and learn about how they can support their child’s college and career goals, as early as kindergarten. They also learned how they can receive up to $175 in additional rewards for their child’s account when they complete steps in the program, such as activating the account, opening their own college and career savings account, and starting to save their own money in ways that make sense for them.
At New World Preparatory Charter School, 291 students have NYC Scholarship Accounts with more than $29,400 already invested for their college and career futures.
291 students at New World Preparatory Charter School, Port Richmond, have accounts.(Courtesy of NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program)
For support with activating and viewing their child’s account, families can reach out to their school, attend an upcoming virtual workshop at nyckidsrise.org/events, email NYC Kids RISE at info@nyckidsrise.org, or call the NYC Kids RISE hotline at 833-543-7473.
Students and their families get help to activate scholarship accounts.(Courtesy of NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program)
CSI RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS RECOGNITION
The College of Staten Island has been named among the Fulbright top producing institutions for the 2024-2025 academic year for its work fostering global engagement and academic excellence among its faculty and students.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs honors colleges and universities that have successfully prepared the highest number of applicants selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student and Scholar Programs.
CSI in Willowbrook was one of those colleges honored this school year.
The Fulbright Program, established in 1946, is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange initiative. It aims to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries.
Fulbright U.S. Scholars, who are faculty, researchers, administrators, and established professionals, teach or conduct research abroad, while Fulbright U.S. Students, including recent college graduates and early career professionals, engage in study, research, or English teaching assistantships overseas.
“This recognition is a testament to our commitment to international education and reflects our belief that at the College of Staten Island if ‘you stay here, you can go anywhere,’” said CSI President Dr. Timothy G. Lynch.
The college’s achievement was listed among Scholar Producing Institutions in the Carnegie Classification of Master’s Institutions.
”To be listed again alongside the Fulbright Top Producing institutions is a testament to CSI’s faculty and staff’s dedication to their work in research and teaching, and their recognition of the value of international education,” said Dr. Stephen Ferst, director of the Center for Global Engagement. “CSI boasts a long list of over 50 Fulbright winners among our ranks and we could not be more proud to add three more Fulbright award winners to our College this year.”
In 2024-2025, CSI celebrated a Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Award given to Winnie Brophy, director of Special Programs and Initiatives at CSI’s Center for Global Engagement, who participated in the program in Taiwan.
Rafael de la Dehesa, chair and associate professor in the CSI Department of Sociology and Anthropology, was also awarded a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award Interdisciplinary Network and will conduct research at the University of Brasilia this spring.
For a comprehensive list of Fulbright Top Producing Institutions for the 2024-2025 academic year, visit the official Fulbright Program Website at us.fulbrightonline.org.
Do you have a story idea for the In Class education column? Email education reporter Annalise Knudson at aknudson@siadvance.com.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025).
© 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us).
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.
YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here.
Ad Choices
