This year, San Francisco’s Kindergarten to College (K2C) program celebrated its belated 10th anniversary (delayed one year by COVID-19). The celebration included the program’s founders, California Governor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Treasurer José Cisneros, along with State Treasurer Fiona Ma and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. The program also recently reached $11 million saved for students’ postsecondary education. Both milestones were celebrated by inviting a class of first graders from Bryant Elementary Schools to visit San Francisco City Hall. To discuss the impact of the 10th anniversary, the growth of K2C, and plans for the program’s future, Prosperity Now’s Policy Associate, Oliver Robinson, talked with K2C Program Manager Mohan Kanungo. The interview is edited for length and clarity.

Hello, Mohan. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Could you share what the 10th anniversary of K2C means to you and how the organization has grown over the years? 

It’s exciting to think that many of our kids will soon be young adults. Our first cohort of participants are in 11th grade, and next year will be part of the class of 2023. We can now think about their adult needs and help guide them during this difficult time, thinking about the value proposition of college and their family’s needs. I’ve only been with Kindergarten to College since 2020, but I think the program was founded on some important principles at its start around universality, accessibility and a focus on lower-income families and households. Those premises ensured that people could participate without a social security number and with no impact on public benefits.  

How has your 2022 been so far? What challenges and obstacles have you had to face? 

The economic landscape of our families has fundamentally shifted, with many falling far behind. We’ve seen more emergency withdrawals, but not as many as expected. We’re proud to have always given that option to participants to meet immediate needs, and many people returned to saving after making emergency withdrawals. It’s clear that we need to make more significant investments in certain communities, particularly Black communities and communities with high immigrant populations, by leveraging more dollars to encourage program participation. We want to keep learning and understand what engagement opportunities work best and acknowledge that some communities will need more support and that it takes time to build trust and relationships. 

What’s next for K2C? How do you see the program adapting and expanding in the future? 

We’re in the process of developing a universal inclusive approach with an equity framework, specifically, so we can target neighborhoods where the economic gap is the widest. We want to understand ways we can give students an extra boost to further develop a college-going culture. However, it’s also important to us to not be deficit focused; our communities are not just people who have been left behind. We must prioritize their dreams and aspirations and how we can make this a reality. K2C's "I am the Future" Campaign and Equity Incentive offered first, second and now third graders at select schools an additional $150 per student for school year 2021-2022, and eligible students can earn up to a total of $300 by making two separate contributions of at least $5. We want to continue thinking of ways to expand equity incentives in the future. 

How has your experience been working with Prosperity Now? 

I love Prosperity Now. My first experience with the organization was with Mission Asset Fund, and I’ve maintained relationships for nearly 10 years. Deep, meaningful professional relationships are rich because we are all so committed to financial inclusion. I am part of the Campaign for Every Kid’s Future Steering Committee, and I really value the opportunity to discuss the racial wealth divide, credit building and resources for immigrants. Overall, Prosperity Now staff have been very engaging and amazing conveners, and great thought partners to showcase the work of the field. 

For more information about Kindergarten to College, visit the program’s website.