Daily Reporter staff reports
HANCOCK COUNTY — College may seem far away to kindergartners, but Hancock County is bringing post-secondary education and careers front and center for kindergartners and their families. Through a collaborative effort between schools and community partners, the “Hancock County Promise” program makes educational savings a reality by helping families to start a CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings account. Current kindergartners and those enrolling in kindergarten in the fall are eligible now to sign up for the “Hancock County Promise” and receive free funds that support their post-secondary education.
Parents and guardians who sign up at HancockCountyPromise.org and open a 529 savings account will receive a deposit of $25 from Hancock County community partners. Partners include Hancock Health, NineStar Connect, Greenfield Bank, The EMS Group and Tyner Pond Farm.
The next step involves all Hancock County kindergarteners having a chance to visit IUPUI in the fall to learn about post-secondary education options. The students will have a day of interactive learning and dynamic hands-on experiences called “Walk Into My Future” with college students and faculty leading campus tours and activity stations for elementary-aged youth.
Teachers will lead lessons in the classroom on the importance of saving money. After each kindergarten account has had $25 donated from their personal champions (such as parents, grandparents or relatives), students will receive an additional $25 from local community partners.
Many schools in Hancock County are offering “Promise” registration at kindergarten round-up. Schools participating in the Hancock County Promise include Eastern Hancock, Greenfield-Central, Southern Hancock, Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation, Geist Montessori and St. Michael School.
