Congratulations to the Class of 2027!

The students squirmed anxiously in their seats, red graduation caps bouncing. Their parents beamed from the sidelines, proud of how far their children had come in such a short time. San Francisco’s Treasurer Cisneros, grinning at the kids surrounding him, spoke the words everyone had been waiting to hear: “Congratulations to the graduating class of 2011.”

But this was no ordinary graduation. No, it was a kindergarten graduation at Yick Wo Elementary School. And its graduates – a mere five or six years old each – had the distinction of representing the first-ever cohort of San Francisco’s new Kindergarten to College program, more colloquially called K2C. Kindergartners at 18 San Francisco public schools were chosen to participate in K2C's first year.

Each kindergartner – ahem, rising first grader – at the Yick Wo Elementary graduation had previously received a savings account from the City and County of San Francisco. Inside the savings account was either $50 or $100, depending on the economic circumstances of the child’s family. The kindergartners and their parents were then encouraged to save money in the account for their college education. For every dollar that a family saved, EARN matched their contribution up to $100.

The reasoning behind K2C is pretty simple. Recent research shows that children with savings accounts in their own name are approximately seven times more likely to attend college. By providing kindergarten students with their very own savings accounts, San Francisco is investing in the educational future of its children.

As strong supporters and partners of the K2C program, we at EARN are so proud to see the first cohort of kindergartners graduate and take one step further toward college. We echo Treasurer Cisneros’ observation that this isn’t just the graduating class of 2011; it’s the soon-to-be graduating class of 2027. At that graduation, these kids will be walking away with a lot more than a red cap and an ice cream cone. They’ll be graduating with a college diploma and a world of opportunity at their fingertips.

So congratulations to the class of 2027. We’re proud of you!