Children Savings Accounts

Learn more about the research that substantiates the effectiveness of child savings accounts.

It is exciting to see California take such a bold step to help families across the state get a jumpstart on saving for college. This investment in the future of our children will help level the playing field and create opportunities for anyone.

-Julio Martinez, Executive Director of ScholarShare Investment Board

Brown School: Center for Social Development

The Center for Social Development is a hub for implementing and testing applied social innovations that broaden the well-being for individuals, families, and communities. The following articles are selected readings from their website. Explore more findings and reports at csd.wustl.edu.

New Research: Child Development Accounts Generate Assets, Positive Outlook, and Parental Investments

April 7, 2021, Gabbert, John, Washington University, Brown School.

Child Development Accounts in the COVID-19 Crisis: Lessons from the Great Recession

April 2020, Huang, J., Beverly, S. G., Clancy, M. M. and Sherraden, M., Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Child Development Accounts at Scale: Sample State Legislation

November 2019, Clancy, M. M., Sherraden, M., & Beverly, S. G., Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Statewide Child Development Accounts and Local Partnerships: A Scalable Model that Can Include All Families

November 18, 2019, Huang, J., Beverly, S. G., Kim, Y., Clancy, M. M. & Sherraden, M., Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Financially Vulnerable Families Reap Multiple Benefits From Child Development Accounts

October 18, 2019, Huang, J., Beverly, S. G., Kim, Y., Clancy, M. M. & Sherraden, M., Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Exploring a Model for Integrating Child Development Accounts with Social Services for Vulnerable Families

January 17, 2019, Huang, J., Beverly, S. G., Kim, Y., Clancy, M. M. & Sherraden, M., Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Statewide Child Development Account Policies: Key Design Elements

Summer, 2017, Clancy, M. M., & Beverly, S. G., Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Impact Of Assets And The Poor Grows 20 Years After Its Release

December 13, 2011, Martin, T., Washington University, Center for Social Development.

College Savings Plans: A Platform For Inclusive And Progressive Child Development Accounts

January 2015, Clancy, M. M., Sherraden, M. and Beverly, S. G., Washington University, Center for Social Development.

University of Michigan: School of Social Work

Dr. William Elliott III is a professor at the University of Michigan’s (U-M) School of Social Work and founder of the Center on Assets, Education, and Inclusion (AEDI). He is a leading researcher in the fields of children's savings and college debt. His research interests are broadly focused on public policies related to issues of economic inequality and social development. See his full publication list.

Prosperity Now Scorecard

The State Outcome and Policy Report is a summary of race and policies for each state across five issue areas: financial assets and income, businesses and jobs, homeownership and housing, health care and education. You may download customized data at scorecard.prosperitynow.org.

State Outcome & Policy Report

February 2022, Prosperity Now Scorecard.

More research

Seven Surprising Findings from the Asset-Building Field

January 1, 2011, Boshara, R., Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Small-Dollar Children’s Savings Accounts and Children’s College Outcomes by Income Level

March 2013, Elliott, W., Song, H-a., Nam, I., Children and Youth Services Review.

Math achievement and children’s savings: Implications for child development accounts

2010, Elliott, W., Jung, H., and Friedline, T., Journal of Family and Economic Issues.

More to explore

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    For eligible California residents, the California Community Colleges Promise Grant waves enrollment fees.

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