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by Christina Rodriguez
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FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Over $80 million in Calkids scholarships are available for Fresno County students to start their college journey. As financial aid letters begin to roll in, high school seniors and college students across California have a powerful tool to help lower the cost of higher education: the CalKIDS Scholarship Program.
CalKIDS is the largest child development account program in the nation. It offers scholarships of up to $1,500 for eligible public school students in California. The state-funded program is for all minors, and 7 in 10 students in the Central Valley qualify. Students who qualify will automatically receive $500, and foster care youth are eligible for $1500..
The goal? To make college and career training more accessible. “Studies show that students with even $500 saved for college are three times more likely to attend and four times more likely to graduate,”* said Cassandra DiBenedetto, Executive Director of the program. *“CalKIDS is about more than just money—it’s about belief in a future that includes higher education.”
Since its launch, CalKIDS has had a profound impact across California. Students don’t need to write essays, meet GPA minimums, or submit letters of recommendation. Claiming the scholarship is fast, simple, and done online at CalKIDS.org.
CalKIDS funds can be applied toward a range of higher education expenses, including:
The scholarships can be used at accredited colleges, universities, trade schools, and career training programs across the United States.
Since 2022, approximately $1 billion in scholarship funds have been made available to over 2 million public high school students in California.
For students like Luis Garcia, a Parlier High School Student, the CalKIDS $500 scholarship is the first of many that will help his journey to San Diego State University.
Fresno Housing, Deputy Executive Director Tammy Townsend, has partnered with local high schools, school districts, and community organizations like Parlier Unified School District to ensure that students know about free funds and claim their scholarships.
These partnerships help connect families with the tools and information they need.
Claiming your scholarship is easy:
Once a student enrolls in a college or training program, they can request a distribution from their CalKIDS account to directly cover qualifying educational expenses.
The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS) is the nation’s largest initiative of its kind. All California children born on or after July 1, 2022, are also awarded up to $175 automatically to jumpstart their educational journey. The program is administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board and chaired by State Treasurer Fiona Ma.
