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CalKIDS: The first step toward College
CalKIDS: The first step toward College
California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS) is a children’s savings account program administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, an agency of the State of California. CalKIDS will provide each child born in California and eligible low-income public school students free money for college education and career training!
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School-age eligibility includes high-need students enrolled in a California public school on Census Day, October 2021.*
- Student must meet one of the below eligibility standards:
- Receiving meals through the National School Lunch Program
- Family submitted an Alternative Household Income Form
- Student participates in CalFresh, CalWORKs, FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations), or Medi-Cal
- Was designated as an English Learner
- Was designated as migratory, unhoused, or a youth in foster care
*Student eligibility is defined by the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).
- Student must meet one of the below eligibility standards:
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- $500 for low-income or high-need public school students
- $500 more for youth in foster care
- $500 more for youth who were unhoused
NOTE:
- Students who were unhoused or in foster care on Fall Census Day October 2021 can be eligible for up to $1500.
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To use your funds, you must:
- Be between 17 and 26 years old
- Enrolled at an eligible college, university, technical, or vocational institution
- Once funds are requested, they are sent directly to your institution
To claim your account and funds
Claim your account at by Clicking Here - CalKIDS.org with the following information:
- County where student attended school on Census day, October 2021
- Date of Birth
- Statewide Student Identifier (SSID)
NOTE: The Statewide Student Identifier (SSID) is a 10-digit ID number. You can find it by one of the following methods:
- High School Transcript
- High School Report Card
- School portal
- Reaching out to your 1st through 12th grade school
- direct application
Accessing your award
Request distribution of funds on the online portal by providing:
- Name and address of institution
- Self certification that you are enrolled in an eligible institution
- Self certification that you were a resident of CA for the 12 months preceding request
- Email or Phone Number
- Dollar amount of distribution
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Use the eligibility tool linked below to confirm your eligibility for CalKIDS Funds!
The CalKIDS Institute amplifies, strengthens, and evaluates the new statewide children’s savings account program, the California Kids Investment & Development Savings Program (CalKIDS). The Institute is committed to economic equity, higher education access, and the financial well-being of families.