SACRAMENTO — Public schools across California are now required to inform students and families about available college scholarships through the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program after completing their financial aid applications.
The new mandate, part of the 2025–26 California State Budget, requires schools to notify families about CalKIDS after they complete their FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. The program provides eligible public school students with up to $1,500 for higher education and awards newborns born in California on or after July 1, 2022, with up to $175.
“CalKIDS was created to reduce financial barriers to higher education for families across California,” said State Treasurer Fiona Ma, chair of the ScholarShare Investment Board.
“This new requirement is an opportunity for schools to directly connect students and families with funding that is already set aside for them; they simply need to visit CalKIDS.org and claim it.”
Over 5 million children and students in California are eligible for CalKIDS scholarships, according to the ScholarShare Investment Board. About 60% of all public-school students qualify for scholarships worth up to $1,500, while every child born in California since July 1, 2022, can claim a scholarship worth up to $175.
The statewide program represents a $2 billion public investment in California students. Research shows children with modest savings are three times more likely to attend college and four times more likely to graduate, the ScholarShare Investment Board reported.
Schools can help students access the scholarships by making Statewide Student Identification numbers accessible to students, designating class time for eligibility checks and integrating CalKIDS information into financial aid workshops and college readiness programs.
Los Angeles Unified School District is among the districts already implementing the new requirement.
“This new requirement is more than a policy change – it’s an opportunity,” said Alberto M. Carvalho, superintendent of L.A. Unified.
“By ensuring that families are informed about CalKIDS scholarships, we’re helping unlock college savings that have already been set aside for our students. Every notification is a step toward a future where more of our students can see college not as a dream, but as a real and reachable goal.”
Students need their 10-digit SSID number, which can be found on school portals, transcripts, report cards or by contacting their school directly, to check eligibility and claim their scholarship on the CalKIDS website.
The program, administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board and funded by the State of California, promotes college and career readiness from early childhood through high school graduation.
