by El Reportero’s staff and reports
California is marking National Scholarship Month by celebrating the expanding reach of CalKIDS, the state’s pioneering scholarship and savings program now supporting more than five million children. Officials say the initiative is reshaping how families prepare for higher education by offering early financial support and fostering a college-going culture statewide. Launched in 2022, the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program—CalKIDS—provides up to $1,500 in scholarships for eligible public school students and $175 for every child born in California on or after July 1, 2022. The program is administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board and chaired by State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, with the goal of making higher education more accessible for families regardless of income. State figures show that more than 750,000 students have already claimed their scholarships, using the funds for tuition, books, housing, and other educational expenses at accredited colleges, universities, and vocational schools across the country. Treasurer Ma called CalKIDS a powerful tool for equity. “CalKIDS is a catalyst for building family assets and expands access to education,” she said. “For older students, it offers real financial support to meet immediate education needs. For younger families, it plants the seeds of lifelong financial literacy.” For many students, the benefits are immediate. Abigail Lopez of CSU San Bernardino said her CalKIDS scholarship reduced the stress of paying for essential school costs. “I found out about it my first year of college and wanted to use it to pay my tuition, books, and housing,” she said. “It relieved some stress I had about paying for things for school.” Parents of newborns say the program brings peace of mind. Lindsay Ferguson of Orange County described her son’s automatic scholarship as a meaningful early step toward future planning. Educators also see significant impact. Cindy Duran, a CalWORKs counselor at Saddleback College, said the automatic account creation is critical. “Most students aren’t aware of it,” she noted, adding that funds can be claimed easily online. About 60 percent of public-school students in grades 2–12 qualify for CalKIDS, along with all children born in California since mid-2022. Families can confirm eligibility by visiting CalKIDS.org and entering a student’s Statewide Student Identifier or the 13-digit number on a newborn’s birth certificate. State leaders say CalKIDS supports California’s cradle-to-career vision by encouraging savings habits and expanding access to higher education, helping ensure every child has a path toward a brighter future.
