K2C Accounts

Welcome back SFUSD! K2C will mail a welcome kit to new participants in December. Check back then to register and view your balance online if you do not have an account number already.

Stay up to date with the K2C newsletter.

How does K2C work?

Every child enrolled in Kindergarten through 12th grade (as of Fall 2022) with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) automatically receives a college savings account at Citibank with an initial incentive of $50.

Earn Free Money: 2022-2023 Incentives

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Every K2C account receives $50 automatically. 2022-2023 school year behavioral-related incentives are offered July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 as funds remain available. Some incentives are automated and others may take 30 days or more to appear credited in a student’s K2C account.

$20 Register and View Balance Online Incentive
Register for the first time or login to view your balance once a school year and we will reward each student's K2C account with a $20 incentive.

$20 Matching Incentive
For every dollar you save, we will match you up to the first $20 you have saved during this school year. For example, when $1 is deposited, we will deposit $1. We will continue to match your savings for your first $20 saved.

$20 Save Now Incentive
For newly opened accounts, receive a one-time bonus of $20 if you make the first deposit in your student's account by the end of the school year. Act Now!

Growth Incentive
Participants who make a contribution receive the growth amount incentive based on the balance of their contributions.

K2C's "I am the Future" Campaign and Equity Incentive
1st, 2nd 3rd and now 4th graders at select schools are eligible for the equity incentive for school year 2022-2023 which offers $150 per student on top of the $50 every SFUSD student gets when their K2C account is opened. Eligible students can earn up to a total of $300 by making two separate contributions of at least $5.

How does this incentive work? When a contribution of at least $5 is made to an eligible student’s K2C account, K2C deposits an additional $150! And we’ll do it again if there is a second contribution of at least $5 before June 30, 2023. All together, students eligible for the equity incentive could earn over $500 for college. Eligible students should get started and save today to take advantage of this special campaign.

*Select Schools*
- Bryant Elementary
- George Washington Carver Elementary
- Cesar Chavez Elementary
- Charles Drew College Preparatory Academy
- Bret Harte Elementary
- Malcolm X Elementary
- John Muir Elementary
- Paul Revere Elementary
- Sanchez Elementary

*Last updated 7/12/22*

How to make a deposit

You, your child, extended family, and friends can deposit into a K2C account in a variety of ways using the student’s name and account number.

In person at a local San Francisco Citibank branch:

Cash - You will need to provide one valid government-issued photo ID and other identifying information.
Check or money order - You will only need your student's K2C Account number and name.

By mail:

Make a check or money order payable to your child's name, include their account number in the memo section of the check, and mail to:

Citi Youth Savings Accounts
P.O. Box 790020
St. Louis, MO 63179-9966

By direct deposit:

Using online Bill Pay:

Set up bill pay at your financial institution, following these instructions:

Log into your bank or credit union’s online portal and go to the Bill Pay service. You can also call your financial institution for guidance on how to set up Bill Pay.
Enter and save the Bill Pay merchant details in the following field:
- Merchant Name: Kindergarten 2 College Account
- Account #: Enter the student’s 15-digit account number
- Merchant Address: P.O. Box 790020 St. Louis, MO 63179-9966
- Merchant Phone Number: 415-701-2311
Follow the prompts to add the merchant and set up a one-time or recurring payment. Once you have entered this merchant in your bank’s Bill Pay service, you should not have to enter this information again and all payments will be sent electronically.

*Fees may be charged by your financial institutions for bill payment services. So, check with your institution first.

Withdrawals (Financial Hardship, 529, Leaving SFUSD, Graduating SFUSD)

Before graduation or leaving SFUSD, participants may need to access funds they have contributed. Download, complete, and return K2C's special circumstances form (financial hardship or moving money to another college savings account) to k2c@sfgov.org.

Special Circumstances Form

Please visit "Save with a 529" if you are transferring funds to California ScholarShare or for forms related to leaving SFUSD or graduating SFUSD.

Update your address

Please notify SFUSD’s Educational Placement Center (EPC) and complete their Change of Address form, to update the record for each student. SFUSD will share the new address with K2C the beginning of each semester.

If your child left SFUSD and you have moved, please provide proof of new address, such as your utility bill, home or renters insurance, pay stub within 45 days, or other proof of residency, directly to K2C by emailing k2c@sfgov.org.

Need help? Join Zoom office hours (Tuesday 4-5pm in English & Thursdays 9:30am-10:30 am in Spanish) to get questions answered, email k2c@sfgov.org or call 311 (415-701-2311 outside of San Francisco). K2C is managed by the City and County of San Francisco. We have multilingual support available and are available Monday to Friday 8 am to 5pm.

K2C Program Rules

Effective September 2021

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Kindergarten to College (“K2C” or “K2C Program”) accounts are deposit-only savings accounts opened and maintained by the City and County of San Francisco (“the City”) to help students enrolled in participating San Francisco Unified School District (“SFUSD”) schools and grades save for college or other post-secondary education. A student, their family, and friends, may contribute to the student’s account.

The City maintains K2C accounts at Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”). The accounts grow through contributions, gifts, incentives, and scholarships. Students and their parent/guardian may review their K2C account balance and transaction history online at www.k2csf.org. K2C participants who transfer funds into a 529 ScholarShare Account are required to link their ScholarShare Account with K2C’s online portal (“Outcome Tracker”) so that K2C can continue to provide you information and support.

K2C may send account and program related communication for the student, as well as a parent/legal guardian, by mail, phone, email, or text.

CONTRIBUTIONS AND GIFTS
A contribution is a deposit of funds to a K2C account by a student, family, friend, or another person for the benefit of the student. Contributions are credited to a student’s K2C account and may count towards savings-related incentives.

A gift is a deposit of funds that the K2C Program makes to a student’s K2C account on behalf of a third party, such as a company, and does not qualify towards savings-related incentives.

Total contributions and gifts made by the student, family, and friends may not exceed $35,000. Funds over this lifetime maximum may be returned to the address on file. Active participants with higher-balances or who are nearing graduation are also strongly encouraged to open a California 529 ScholarShare Account.

INCENTIVES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Incentives include the $50 credited by the City and County of San Francisco at the opening of each K2C account and may also be awarded for meeting certain savings goals or other achievements. Check out www.k2csf.org for the latest incentives offered and related dates each school year.

Scholarships may also be awarded by K2C or on behalf of a third party, often for participation in contests and activities, based on funding, eligibility, and objectives. Check out www.k2csf.org for any existing opportunities available.

Incentives and scholarships can be earned only while a student is enrolled in an eligible SFUSD school or program. All incentives and scholarships are conditional on a student’s post-secondary educational attendance. Should a student’s K2C account be closed or if requirements for participation are not met, any incentives or scholarships awarded, could be forfeited, and return to the K2C Program.

K2C DISBURSEMENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
When a student is ready to use their K2C funds for post-secondary education expenses, the student should visit K2CSF.org or contact K2C at k2c@sfgov.org to complete a request for disbursement of funds related to higher education. If a student does not attend post-secondary education by age 25, K2C will disburse all contributions and gifts to the student; all incentives and scholarships will return to the K2C Program. Students who serve in a national service program, such as the US Military, Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, may defer receipt of their funds one year for each year of service, to a maximum of five years or age 30.

MOVING CONTRIBUTIONS AND INCENTIVES TO CALIFORNIA’S 529 SCHOLARSHARE ACCOUNT
As of September 2021, K2C allows transfers of a student’s contributions and any earned incentives into a California 529 ScholarShare account. For those K2C participants who remain enrolled with SFUSD, a minimum of $10 in contributions must be kept to maintain an active K2C account, retain any earned incentives and remain eligible for future incentives. Without a minimum balance of $10 in contributions, the K2C account may be closed, and any earned incentives could be forfeited.

WITHDRAWAL OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM K2C FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SFUSD FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
Although K2C is a deposit-only child savings account program and money saved and any incentives received must be used for qualified higher education related expenses, participants may need to access funds they have contributed to special circumstances like a financial hardship or a desire to move money into another college savings account (e.g., a 529 account other than CA ScholarShare). From the program’s inception K2C has allowed emergency withdrawals and beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic has offered greater flexibility with withdrawals including issuing checks payable to the student and, at times, facilitating a direct bank transfer.

Participating students age 18+ or parent/guardian of a minor student may withdraw some or all contributions and gifts in the student’s K2C account by contacting K2C at k2c@sfgov.org and completing a withdrawal form. Incentives and scholarships must remain in the K2C account for post-secondary education uses. A minimum of $10 in contributions must be kept maintaining an active K2C account, retain any earned incentives and remain eligible for future incentives. Without a minimum balance of $10 in contributions, the K2C account may be closed, and any earned incentives could be forfeited.

K2C will facilitate a requested withdrawal as quickly as possible, but the process could take up to 30 days.

K2C ACCOUNTS ARE AUTOMATICALLY CLOSED FOR NON-SFUSD STUDENTS
As of September 2021, students who leave SFUSD or who left prior, are no longer eligible to maintain an account with K2C. Participating students age 18+ or parent/guardian of a minor student may elect to move their contributions along with any incentives or scholarships into a California 529 ScholarShare account. Alternatively, they may request just the balance of contributions in the form of a check payable to the minor child or a bank transfer. Any incentives or scholarships will return to the program unless they are being moved to a California 529 ScholarShare Account. Any contributions and gifts that have not been returned to the participant after one year (less than $15 balance) or three years (more than $15 balance) may be escheated to the City.

VOLUNTARY ACCOUNT CLOSURES REQUESTS FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN ENROLLED IN SFUSD
K2C participants who remains enrolled with SFUSD, may voluntarily elect to close their K2C account. If a student has any contributions in their K2C account, students age 18+ or parent/guardian of a minor student may elect to move their contributions along with any incentives or scholarships into a California 529 ScholarShare account. Alternatively, the parent/guardian may request the balance of just the contributions in the form of a check made out to the minor child or a bank transfer.

Any incentives or scholarships will return to the program unless they are being moved to a ScholarShare 529. Any contributions and gifts that have not been returned to the participant after one year (less than $15 balance) or three years (more than $15 balance) will be escheated to the City.

K2C program rules are subject to change. For more information about the K2C program, go to www.k2csf.org.

K2C, K2C Kids to College (logo), Kids to College, and the Kids 2 College (logo) are registered service marks of The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae, Inc. The Sallie Mae Fund, including its parent, affiliates, and subsidiaries, are not affiliated with the City and County of San Francisco’s Kindergarten to College Program. Visit TheSallieMaeFund.org to learn more.

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Step By Step Guide to Register & Link All Your Student Accounts