States use a variety of 529 policy strategies to make it easier for low-and moderate-income families to save for college. A new report authored by the Center for Social Development (CSD) identifies legislation and administrative approaches that facilitate enrollment and contributions, remove saving disincentives, increase saving incentives, and strengthen tax benefits. Sherry Riva, Executive Director of Compass Working Capital in Massachusetts, calls the report “a readable, well-written, and very practical piece that provides an extremely helpful snapshot for other states that are interested in ‘best practices’ and model policy development.”
The report is a product of the College Savings Initiative, a research and policy design collaboration between CSD and the New America Foundation focused on helping Americans of all income levels save and prepare for college through innovative reforms to 529 college savings plans.