by Xochitl T. Canela
Latino families in California have a new opportunity to secure financial support for their children’s education through the state’s CalKIDS program, which offers scholarships that can be used for university studies, community colleges and technical programs until beneficiaries reach age 26.
The information was presented during a virtual forum organized by the OCPSC, held via Zoom and lasting one hour, where participants also discussed personal data protection through the DROP program.
During the conference, Cecilia Arteaga, a representative of CalKIDS, explained that children born in California on or after June 1, 2022 automatically receive a state scholarship ranging from $175 to $1,500.
She said the amount can accumulate over time and remain available until the student turns 26, allowing the funds to be used for higher education at eligible institutions throughout California.
Arteaga emphasized that parents’ immigration status does not affect students’ eligibility to receive the benefit.
“The main requirement is having the student’s SSID,” she explained, referring to the state student identification number that can be found on report cards or requested directly from schools.
She also encouraged families to contact California school counselor associations, many of which are actively helping students and parents learn how to claim available funds.
Families interested in the program can verify eligibility through the official CalKIDS portal, which also provides information in Spanish. Arteaga also shared the email address cecilia@vizadpr.com to answer questions related to the process.
In Merced County, Isai Garnica Palma, assistant director of Valley Onward, explained that his organization has worked closely with school counselors to help families activate CalKIDS accounts.
“We have spoken with nearly 5,000 students in Merced County and activated more than 2,000 accounts, equivalent to nearly one million dollars in financial assistance for children,” he said.
Garnica Palma noted that one of the most successful models was implemented in the Los Baños school district, where student assemblies were organized to inform young people directly about the program and guide them through the account activation process.
During one of those sessions, 161 students successfully activated their accounts in just 37 minutes.
For her part, Lilia Ocampo, an activist with Centro CHA in Long Beach and Catalina Island, said that health fairs and community events have been essential for reaching Latino families and answering questions about the program.
Ocampo emphasized that there is no risk for families with irregular immigration status and said her organization provides assistance through Zoom appointments to help families claim scholarships and transfer funds to the appropriate educational institutions.
During the same forum, speakers also discussed the importance of protecting California residents’ personal information amid the growing number of spam calls and unwanted emails.
Ana Cubas explained that beginning Aug. 1, residents will legally be able to request the removal of their personal information from commercial databases through the DROP program.
The initiative is part of the DELETE Act, introduced in 2023 by Josh Becker, and seeks to limit the commercialization of private information by data brokers.
There are currently more than 500 companies dedicated to collecting and selling personal information in California, which contributes to unwanted marketing calls and spam emails.
To request the deletion of personal data, residents can visit the DROP California Privacy Protection Agency portal, enter their name and submit a request.
Finally, Simón Quiroz shared his experience using DROP and said telemarketing calls decreased considerably after completing the process.
