Getting Your City to Pay For College
Jan 10, 2024 11:05AM ● By Michele Townsend
WEST SACRAMENTO (MPG) - The West Sacramento Home Run program is a unique program that any resident in West Sacramento, with children under the age of 18, would be wise to know about. West Sacramento Home Run is a Cradle to Career Initiative that begins with your child’s birth and can assist your child in becoming a community oriented, career minded, college student.
First, West Sacramento now has 20 certified sites of high-quality early learning, preschool and childcare centers. These sites receive coaching and quality certification from Home Run Early Learning Specialists that comes with resources to grow and improve those sites. Once certified, parents can go onto the website and investigate what skills the teachers or sites are trained in. This doesn’t mean that it’s all work and no play. These specialists understand that young children learn by playing. These places include fee based and publicly subsidized centers.
Digital Micro-credentialing is another program within the Home Run program. Digital micro credentialing is a way for a student to digitally share, in detail, the important skills they have been trained in, that an employer may be looking for. Micro-credentialing is earned by the students that complete an on-line course in Oral Communication, Collaboration, or Initiative, with more options coming soon. Micro-credentialing can be used as part of a resume’ but gives the potential employer a chance to see in detail what the student knows.
Paid Internships is another program that Home Run offers. The internships take place in the summer with local employers, in a variety of industries. These internships allow the students to get real-world experience, learn work ethic, expose them to career opportunities and build professional business relationships.
The College Promise is unique in the sense that every student that graduates from a West Sacramento high school is automatically admitted to Sacramento City College. Full-time students can attend fee-free for two years. This is partly because West Sacramento Home Run is partnered with CalKIDS. According to CalKIDS website: CalKIDS is a state program that gives children in California a jump start on saving for college. Newborns and eligible low-income public school students are automatically enrolled and given a CalKIDS college savings account with an initial deposit. Eligible participants are identified by data received from the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Education. There is no need to apply and no requirement that families make any kind of financial commitment. You may qualify for up to $1,500 through CalKIDS
West Sacramento has two ways to start a college fund for your children through the Home Run program. A 529 plan is an investment account that can grow over time and is not taxed if earnings are used for qualified education expenses. This program focuses on helping families with young children open and sustain a ScholarShare 529 account through the financial incentives that West Sacramento families can receive.
Ready, Set, Save is an account available to all West Sacramento children. Children can earn up to $1,000 through Ready, Set, Save towards college by participating in approved family, health, academic, civic and career readiness activities. By participating in, or attending, community events your child can put money in the bank! Yes, it’s that simple. In addition, if your child has an opportunity to participate in activities that are not on the monthly calendar, they may still be approved. Events or activities that are educational, helps your community in some way, promotes health and family is the goal. There are activities for each age group.
The previously approved activities for the month of January are as follows: Ages 0-4 January 13, 20 & 27, Zumbini. Ages 5-10 January 12 -Kids Night out, Jan. 19 - Lego Block Party and Jan. 26 - Parents Night Out. Ages 11-13 Jan. 12 Kids Night Out, Jan. 19 Lego Block Party, Jan. 23 Fit n’ Play, Jan. 26. Parents Night Out. Ages 14-18 Jan. 17 – City Council Meeting, Jan. 18 - Planning Commission, Jan. 19 - Teen Nerf Battles, Jan. 24 – Economic Development and Housing Commission, Jan. 27 – Zumba Glow Master Class, Jan. 27 – West Sac Repair Café. Event locations can be found on the cityofwestsacramento.org website calendar. Additional incentives are $20 for Family Event and $20 for Public Comment at a meeting. You can also find additional eligible events on wshomerun.org.
If you are interested in getting your child on their way to achieving big things, please contact West Sacramento Home Run at (916)617-4500, on their website at www.wshomerun.org or email [email protected].
