Hermiston elementary students head back to school today, and they’ll return home with colorful “Be College Ready” homework folders, bookmarks, pencils and pens as a reminder to families about the importance of college savings.
Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann has proclaimed September as Be College Ready month.
The Be College Ready program, which is being piloted in Hermiston, will help parents and families better understand the long-term benefits of higher education and how to reach their college planning goals. The program was developed by the Oregon College Savings Plan.
Be College Ready materials will be distributed to all Hermiston elementary students today, Aug. 26, at each of the elementary schools.
As a part of the Be College Ready program, state officials with the Oregon College Savings Plan will be giving a set of informative presentations to parents in the Hermiston community to raise awareness about saving for college and help families understand what it takes to be college ready. These presentations will explain the tax advantages and other benefits of saving for college with the Oregon College Savings Plan and provide specialists to answer questions.
The events will take place Sept. 29 at Sandstone Middle School, 400 N.E. 10th St., and Armand Larive Middle School, 1497 S.W. Ninth St. Both presentations will begin with an English version from 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by a Spanish version from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Each participating school in the Be College Ready program will be certified as a 529 College Savings School, a special designation that will serve as a continuous reminder about the importance of college savings and what it means to be college ready. In the first year, each certified 529 School will receive a $529 cash donation to the school’s classroom grant fund or other predetermined fund that benefits the classroom, a 529 School certificate from the state, and a window sticker designating it as an official 529 School.
For more information, visit the Be College Ready website.
