CalKIDS Scholarship Account

Children Born in California

A child is eligible if they:

• Were born in California on or after July 1, 2022.
• Wait at least 90 days after birth before claiming their account.

California Public School Students

A student may be eligible if they:

• Were enrolled in a California public school in:
  • Grades 1–12 during the 2021–2022 school year, or
  • 1st grade during the 2022–2023 school year or any school year thereafter.
• Were identified by their school as low income or an English learner under California's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) on Fall Census Day.

Additional Scholarship Amounts

Eligible students may also receive additional funds if they were identified as:

• Foster youth
• Homeless youth

Award Amounts

• Children born on or after July 1, 2023: $100
• Children born between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023: $25
• Claiming bonus: $25
• Linking a ScholarShare 529 account: $50 bonus
• Eligible public school students: $500
• Eligible foster youth: +$500
• Eligible homeless youth: +$500

1. Check Eligibility
See if your child qualifies.

2. Claim Your Account
Verify your information online.

3. Use Your Funds
Pay for college, career training, trade schools, or other qualified higher education expenses.

Scholarship funds can be used for:

✔ Community Colleges

✔ Universities

✔ Trade Schools

✔ Career Technical Education

✔ Certificate Programs

✔ Apprenticeships (if qualified)

Eligible students may receive up to $1,500 in CalKIDS scholarship funds, depending on their eligibility. Award amounts vary based on factors such as grade level and whether a student is identified as low income, an English learner, foster youth, or experiencing homelessness.

No. CalKIDS is a scholarship program funded by the State of California. Eligible students do not have to repay scholarship funds when they are used for qualified higher education expenses.

Scholarship funds can be used after a student enrolls in an eligible college, university, trade school, career training program, or other qualifying higher education institution. Funds may be used for qualified expenses such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, computer equipment, and certain room and board costs. Eligible participants have until age 26 to use their funds.

To claim a CalKIDS Scholarship Account, you'll generally need:

• Your child's or student's date of birth
• Their Statewide Student Identifier (SSID) or CalKIDS Code (for eligible public school students)
• The California county where the student was enrolled in school

Parents of eligible newborns will need their child's birth information, including the Local Registration Number (LRN) found on the birth certificate.