Jay makes promise to students

Paying for post secondary education can be difficult, but Jay School Corporation is working to make it easier.
Along with community partners, Jay Schools has started Jay County Promise to encourage the use of CollegeChoice 529 savings accounts.
Jay Schools and other local partners first saw the effectiveness of such a program during a visit to Wabash County.
“We really thought it was a no brainer to be involved,” said Rusty Inman, John Jay Center for Learning executive director.
Currently in Jay County, 48 percent of graduates go on to postsecondary education after high school. But only 6 percent of students are saving for further education with 529 accounts, which have low minimum contributions and offer tax credits.
Jay Schools and its partners are hoping to increase the number of students who seek education after high school by helping them with the financial aspect.
“Our number of students going on to college and technical education is low,” said Tim Long, superintendent of Jay Schools. “It’s an area we want to improve upon in the district.”
Research has shown that students are four times more likely to further their education after high school if they have a college savings program.
“We’re changing lives with this,” said Inman. “This is great because its kind of an expectation that (kids) are going to be going on to do something after high school … whatever that looks like.”
The 529 accounts are not just for a four-year college degree. The money can be used for any type of education after high school.
“It puts a stress on post secondary education,” said Inman. “Whatever that may be, whether it’s a welding certificate or going to beauty school or going to Ivy Tech or going to IU.”
Jay Schools has offered a number of ways for parents to sign up their children this summer. They have met with parents at the summer lunch program, sent forms home with the Kindergarten Prep School students at Jay County Public Library, held meetings, mailed 1,000 letters and signed up children at the Jay County Fair. Tuesday’s Jay County Chamber of Commerce networking luncheon will also focus on Jay County Promise.

When registering students for elementary school on July 30 and Aug. 3, there will be a booth to register for a 529 account for students kindergarten through third grade. Registration is also available at http://www.jaycountypromise.org.
There will also be an event in September called “Walk Into My Future,” during which students, kindergarten through third grade, will visit Ivy Tech and Ball State University, allowing them to see a college campus first hand.
John Jay, through a grant from The Portland Foundation, will put $25 into each child’s new account. In October, students will begin to raise money for their accounts in what is called the “Champion Period.”
Students can seek donations of as little as $5.29 from “champions” who want to contribute to their futures. If the child can raise $25, the Jay County Promise community partners — Jay County Economic Development Corporation, John Jay Center for Learning, The Portland Foundation, United Way of Jay County and Jay County Chamber of Commerce — will match it.
Any student can register, but only students in kindergarten through third grade will get the donations from JJCL. The goal is to encourage parents to register students at a young age, so there is more time to build up a college fund.
The school corporation hopes to register all kindergarten through third grade students this year and then include every incoming kindergarten class after that.
Currently, there are about 70 students enrolled, and 25 of those registered at the Jay County Fair in just two hours.
 “Our goal is to get 100 percent of our kids these accounts,” said Jeremy Gulley, director of teacher effectiveness for Jay Schools. “Seventy percent would be a great accomplishment. If we could do that, we would be roughly 60 percent above our state average.”
According to the Lumina Foundation and CollegeChoice 529, by 2020, 60 percent of jobs in Indiana will require some sort of post secondary education. Ultimately, 529 accounts offer kids a better chance at getting jobs and starting a career after they graduate from high school.
“We see a need here,” said Long. “We need to fill that gap so we increase greatly that number of students down the road that are able to go on to post secondary education.
“It provides an expectation of higher education,” said Doug Inman, executive director of The Portland Foundation and a county commissioner. “We are here to enhance the quality of life in the community and one of those ways is through educational attainment, education achievement.”