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Treasurer Kicks Off Second Annual Scholar Dollars Program to Support K-8 Public and Charter Schools

$300,000 grant program provides funding for extracurricular activities that are vital to a well-rounded education

Students at William Land Elementary School Celebrate a $10,000 Grant From the Scholar Dollars Grant Program Alongside ScholarShare 529 Mascot Diploma Dog During a Student-Wide Assembly on April 24, 2017 in Sacramento, Calif.Click here for high-resolution version
California State Treasurer John Chiang Presents Orange County Schools, Sequoia Elementary and Willmore Elementary With Scholar Dollars Grants of $10,000 on May 16, 2017 in Westminster, Calif.Click here for high-resolution version
Shannon Ranch Elementary Breaks Ground on Its School Field to Make Way for a New Running Path Funded With Support From ScholarShare 529's Scholar Dollars Grant Program on October 27, 2017 in Visalia, Calif.Click here for high-resolution version
Shannon Ranch Elementary Students Take Their First Jog on Their Newly-Constructed Running Path Funded With Support From ScholarShare 529's Scholar Dollars Grant Program on January 31, 2018 in Visalia, Calif.Click here for high-resolution version

/EINPresswire.com/ -- SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwired - February 20, 2018) - An important part of a young person's education happens outside the classroom -- in extracurricular activities like sports, music or computer lab. But California school districts, facing even tighter budgets, have found themselves forced to cut back or cancel many of these vital afterschool programs.

To help, California State Treasurer John Chiang today announced the second year of Scholar Dollars, an innovative grant program that makes more than $300,000 available to schools to pay for extracurricular and afterschool programs.

"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."

This year, the program will award 20 grants, ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 each, depending on school size, to K-8 public and charter schools in California. Schools can spend their grants on musical instruments, computers, library books, gardening tools or sports equipment, or support enrichment programs like tutoring labs, student counseling, science and technology instruction, and many other activities.

Scholar Dollars also helps the adults, by giving a break to the administrators, teachers and parents who spend many of their weekends and evenings at bake sales, car washes and other events to raise money for the equipment and programs that are essential to providing kids a well-rounded education.

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.

In its first year, Scholar Dollars was immensely successful. In 2017, more than 390 schools across the state registered and over 411,000 votes were cast. All told, the program awarded $300,000 to support extracurricular activities and afterschool programs. Schools spent their Scholar Dollar grants in a variety of ways. Alfred B. Nobel Charter Middle School in Northridge purchased 80 new Chromebooks. Village School in Campbell sent a classroom of 5th-graders to science camp. Shannon Ranch Elementary School in Visalia built a much-needed new running track.

"This grant has helped Nobel go a long way towards meeting our goal of ensuring that all students have access to a computer to increase computer literacy, research skills and create products that have real world implications," said Felicia Drew, Assistant Principal, Alfred B. Nobel Charter Middle School.

"With grants like Scholar Dollars, we can continue giving our children an extraordinary school experience and guide them into being lifelong learners," added James Crawford, Principal, Village School.

Eligible schools can register for the program online at MyScholarDollars.com. The registration period is open now through March 7, 2018. Enrollment is as easy as ABC. There are no formal grant requests or cumbersome red tape. 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.

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.

Anyone 18 years or older is eligible to vote and can cast a vote once per day during the voting period. Voting runs from March 12, 2018 to March 23, 2018. The Scholar Dollars program provides a variety of resources to help schools get out the vote, such as a customizable PDF flyer as well as copy and images to use in email blasts and/or social media posts.

ScholarShare 529, which supports Scholar Dollars, offers families a diverse set of tools to help pay for college, including investment options, tax-deferred growth and withdrawals free from state and federal taxes when used for higher-education expenses. Studies show that kids with a savings account in their name are seven times more likely to attend and graduate college.

To learn more, register or vote for a school, visit MyScholarDollars.com.

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