Blog Post

Changes to the Children’s Savings Account Program

January 19, 2022

Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) Savings Program: A Partnership with the Washington Student Achievement Council

Tacoma Housing Authority’s CSA Program will now partner with The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC). This helps the program evolve into a new, better way to save! 

What is the Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) Program? How Will it Help my Family Save?

The GET program is a Washington 529 college savings plan. Moving forward, all THA children’s savings accounts will be a GET account.

The savings in a GET account grow tax-free and remain tax-free when your child uses it for a variety of education expenses at schools in the U.S. and even abroad. Washington State then guarantees that the value of the account will keep pace with tuition growth of the highest priced Washington public college (UW and WSU). Your child can attend any public, private, community, technical/vocation school in the U.S. and even schools abroad and use their funds to pay for a variety of education expenses.

You can make contributions to an account at any time, in any amount. The most effective way to see your savings grow is to routinely deposit whatever amount you are comfortable with and plan to increase it as you can. Every dollar saved is less a student borrows. In this way, the GET accounts act much like those in our traditional CSA program but with the added feature of a guaranteed value for education expenses that will keep pace with inflation and rising costs.

More information can be found on the GET website.

Attend a free webinar about the GET: https://wastate529.wa.gov/webinars

How it works:

Earn $500 into your GET savings account by:

  • Creating a GET account and begin saving. GET accounts must be opened for 2 years before funds can be disbursed.
  • Earning your high school accreditation (high school diploma, GED or equivalent)
  • Completing the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA)
  • Enrolling into a post-secondary program of your choice!

What the program offers:

  • Financial education for the whole family
  • Financial aid navigation and supports
  • College and career navigation and supports

What You Need to do:

For current CSA students who enrolled before January 2021:

  • Complete this form to let us know if you choose to stay in the CSA program and continue saving with the GET or if you wish to exit the program.
  • Once we have your authorization, we will contact you with further instructions. 

New to the program and want to enroll?

This program helps families save for their children’s education after high school. The program is currently available to students who meet the following eligibility:

Be age 18 or younger at time of enrollment

Be a THA tenant in the following THA Family Properties: 

  • 6th Avenue Apartments
  • Arlington Apartments
  • Bay Terrace
  • Bergerson Terrace
  • Dixon Village
  • E.B. Wilson Apartments
  • Fawcett Apartments
  • Hillside Terrace
  • G Street Apartments
  • K Street Apartments
  • Ludwig Apartments
  • Salishan
  • The Rise at 19th 
  • Wright Street Apartments

If you meet all of the eligibility requirements, click here to enroll!

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About Tacoma Housing Authority

Established in 1940, Tacoma Housing Authority provides high-quality, stable and sustainable housing and supportive services to people in need. It does this in ways that help them prosper and help our communities develop equitably. THA develops and manages real estate and provides rental housing. In partnership with thousands of private landlords, it helps families pay the rent in the private rental market. It delivers supportive services to help families succeed as “tenants, parents, students, wage earners and builders of assets who can live without assistance.” THA seeks to do its work in ways that help our community be an “attractive place to live, work, attend school, shop and play,” and that help Tacoma be “safe, vibrant, prosperous, attractive and just.”