California has more than $8 million in scholarships set aside for any San Diego County children born after 2022, and much of it remains unclaimed, the state says.
Every child born in California on or after July 1, 2022, was automatically given a scholarship through the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS). The state said the program was created to make higher education more accessible for California families and to promote college-going mindsets across communities.
CalKIDS, launched in 2022, offers up to $1,500 for eligible public school students and $175 for every baby born after its launch date.
In three years, more than 750,000 children and students have claimed their CalKIDS scholarship funds. The money can be used for tuition, books, housing and other educational expenses at accredited colleges, universities and vocational programs nationwide, according to the program.
During National Scholarship Month, state leaders are encouraging parents and students to check whether a CalKIDS scholarship is available for them. Here’s how to find out if you’re eligible:
Who is eligible?
- 60% of California public school students in grades 2–12 are eligible.
- All children born in California on or after July 1, 2022, receive a scholarship automatically.
- Families can find out if they’re eligible at CalKID’s website.
How to check eligibility?
- Visit CalKIDS.org and click “Confirm Eligibility.”
- Public school students will need their Statewide Student Identifier (SSID).
- Parents of newborns will need the Local Registration Number found on the birth certificate.
- Once a CalKIDS Account is claimed, students can request to use their scholarship funds after turning 17 and enrolling in an accredited higher education or career training institution.
The CalKids program said its support has taken pressure off families when it comes to the rising cost of education. They highlighted Abigail Lopez, a CSU San Bernardino student, who said the scholarship helped her during her first year of college.
“It relieved some stress I had about paying for things for school,” Lopez said. “I will forever be grateful for the money I received from CalKIDS.”
State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who chairs the ScholarShare Investment Board, said CalKIDS aims to remove common barriers that keep families from saving for higher education.
“CalKIDS is a catalyst for building family assets and expands access to education,” Ma 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 new parents, CalKIDS serves as an early reminder that it’s never too soon to start thinking about their child’s future.
“Most students aren’t aware,” said Cindy Duran, a CalWORKs coordinator at Saddleback College. “What makes CalKIDS even more impactful is that families don’t need to apply; accounts are created automatically and students can simply register online to claim their funds.”
Although the program has been active since 2022, many scholarships remain unclaimed and available.
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