Inversant CSA program Charlie Desmond, Ed.D, Chief Executive Officer Show Chelsea video: http://www.inversant.org/chelsea300club Charlie Desmond, Ed.D, Chief Executive Officer

About Inversant Our history: Founded in 2009 by economist Bob Hildreth with the mission of focusing on parental engagement as the foundation to strengthening economic prospect and education aspirations. Our mission: To ensure that through parental engagement every low-to-moderate income family has the resources and understanding they need to achieve their goals for higher education.  About Inversant Inversant was founded in 2009 by economist Bob Hildreth with the mission of focusing on parental engagement as the foundation to strengthening economic prospect and educational aspirations. More specifically, our mission is to ensure that every low-to-moderate income family has the resources and understanding they need to achieve their goals for higher education. Add personal touch example because of my work with BGCB families in Boston this is what I have seen….

Program Model: Savings & Savvy User friendly college savings accounts with Metro Credit Union Up to $1,000 savings match Education Monthly workshop targeting parents about college finance and access Monthly e-newsletters and sweepstakes Savings incentives: matches range from $300 to $1,500, depending on the funding opportunities at the partnering sites.  In this workshop we will focus on our partnership with Chelsea Public School, where the match is 1:1 up to $1,500. The City manager of Chelsea has started a very successful collaboration with local businesses with on average generate $30,000 to 40,000 per year in funding for the incentives. Learning circles’ attendance are incentivized by offering warm meals, (child-care??), free parking, attendance raffles with prizes ranging from $100 to $300 (or a laptop). At our Chelsea partnership, the LC incentives are… ??

Financial institutions Partnership Model K-12 schools & CBOs Financial institutions Higher education Local business Inversant families We will talk about how these implications later…. K12 partners to provide program services: We provide our services through partnership with schools and afterschool organization in Boston, Chelsea, Lynn and Salem Banking services: We partner with Metro Credit Union to administer families’ college savings accounts Higher education partnership: We partner with colleges to connect low-income and minority students to affordable higher education options Local business: fundraising

Our Families 29 %

By the number Our outcomes, by the number: Since 2009, Inversant established programs in more than 10 partnering sites in and around Boston. We enrolled more than 1200 families and opened about 1,300 college savings accounts. Our families saved more than 1 million towards their children’s education. We have now more than 480 alumni enrolled in college, and 65 college graduates.

Inversant College Level Outcomes From 2010 to 2015, 148 Inversant students graduated from High School. Of those students, 89% enrolled to college (2 or 4 years) in the fall following their graduation. This is much higher percentage than Boston Public School, Massachusetts and National averages. It is also important to mention (but not included in this graph) that 59% of the 148 students enrolled to a 4 year program compared to 25% of the all Chelsea high school graduates. 83% persisted after one year, and 63% graduated in 4 years from a 4 year program. Not enough years have passed to have enough of a sample size to generate the 6 year graduation rate, which is more commonly used measure.

Chelsea study about program impact On parents On students Encouraged immediate proactive behavioral change to prepare for college and the importance to save Increased college-going expectations Changes for both a parent’s involvement in their child’s education; and, knowledge in college preparation. Increased financial capability Being a part of Inversant has a direct, positive impact on student’s academic performance and behavior. Did better on exams Had higher high school grades in key subjects; higher attendance More likely to take math and science classes 25% more likely to plan for 4 year college graduation goal Hashmi, Jodut. 2015. Examining the Role of Parent Involvement in College Access for Low-Income Students: A Mixed Methods Study of the FUEL Program. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard Graduate School of Education The Impact of Parent Engagement on Student Outcomes: Analysis of the FUEL Education Model (Currently Inversant) Bridget Terry Long, Harvard Graduate School of Education February 2016

Starting your own CSA Account Incentives Engagement User friendly to families Easy administration for program Account What behavior you’d like to change? What budget/funding stream you have? Is there an existing scholarship? Incentives Who will be the primary saver? What existing activities do you have with families? Engagement

Questions? Go to the “Research” tab on our website: www.Inversant.org Feel free to contact us with additional questions: Bahar Akman Imboden, Research Director b.akman@Inversant.org Dr. Charles F. Desmond, Ed.D., Chief Executive Officer c.desmond@inversant.org Ask for questions based on what was presented. Then move to working in groups.