Kindergartners in New York City could receive $3,000 from the city for college under a Council proposal that would lift the current $100 start to one of the largest single‑time contributions in the U.S. The plan targets low‑income families, while others get $1,000.

Speaker Julie Menin argues the expansion tackles income inequality and campus debt. The proposal would cost $180 million annually, a drop in the bucket compared with the city’s $125 billion budget, and would raise the program’s total to $85 million.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who left the plan out of his May budget, has signaled openness to negotiations. City officials say the measure would automatically open 529 accounts for all kindergartners in public schools, a move that could shift the city’s wealth‑building culture.

If adopted, the initiative would set a new benchmark for municipal student‑saving programs and could influence other cities to follow suit, tightening the link between local policy and college access.