CalKIDS Offers Up To $1,500 In Scholarships For California Students - India West

Photo: State Treasurer Fiona Ma assists students at Rancho Verde High School in Riverside County with claiming their CalKIDS Scholarship Accounts.
India-West Staff Reporter
SACRAMENTO, CA—As college acceptance and financial aid letters begin to arrive, more than 2 million California high school seniors and college students have an opportunity to ease their education costs through the CalKIDS program, the nation’s largest child development account initiative. Administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, CalKIDS provides eligible public school students with scholarships worth up to $1,500, helping them take the next step toward higher education or career training.
Eligible students can use their CalKIDS Scholarship Accounts for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and computer equipment. Since the program’s launch in 2022, approximately $1 billion in CalKIDS Scholarships have been made available to California public high school students.
To raise awareness and ensure students claim their scholarships, the ScholarShare Investment Board has partnered with high schools, school districts, community-based organizations, and financial aid offices at colleges and universities across the state. A recent back-to-school campaign helped drive nearly 100,000 new scholarship claims in just four months.
“CalKIDS is an incredible resource for California families,” said State Treasurer Fiona Ma, chair of the ScholarShare Investment Board. “Claiming a CalKIDS Scholarship is the easiest step students can take on their path to higher education, whether that means college, trade schools, or technical and vocational schools. This investment is designed to support students, particularly those from historically underserved communities. We want every eligible student to claim their scholarship account and take full advantage of this opportunity.”
Claiming a CalKIDS Scholarship is a straightforward process. Families need the student’s Statewide Student Identifier (SSID), a ten-digit number available from their school. Once they have the SSID, students or parents can visit CalKIDS.org to check eligibility and claim their scholarship in just minutes.
Scholarship funds can be used at accredited colleges, universities, trade schools, and career programs across the country. Once enrolled in a higher education program, students can log into their CalKIDS Account to request a distribution directly to their school for qualifying educational expenses.
“Studies show that students with just $500 or less set aside for college are three times more likely to attend college and four times more likely to graduate,” said Cassandra DiBenedetto, executive director of the ScholarShare Investment Board. “CalKIDS Accounts are more than financial assistance—they’re an investment in students’ futures, and we want to give every one of these students a reason to believe in their path to higher education.”
With roughly 60% of California public school students eligible for a CalKIDS Scholarship and key college decision and financial aid deadlines approaching, now is the time for students and families to check their eligibility and claim their scholarship accounts.
For more information on eligibility, scholarship amounts, and how to claim a CalKIDS Scholarship Account, visit CalKIDS.org.
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