SACRAMENTO — California is moving to bridge the gap between state-funded savings and the students who need them most, announcing a new data-sharing initiative Thursday designed to put millions of dollars into the hands of community college students.
Governor Gavin Newsom joined state education and finance leaders to unveil a partnership that identifies students eligible for the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS). The coordinated effort has already located 40,000 community college students who have more than $20 million in available scholarship funds waiting for them.
The initiative links the CalKIDS program with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the California Cradle-to-Career Data System. By leveraging these existing databases, the state can now provide local campus officials with “Data on Demand” reports, allowing them to notify students directly that they have money available for books, laptops, and tuition.
“Through CalKIDS, we created free college scholarship funds for millions of children in the state,” Newsom said in a statement. “This new partnership will connect more community college students with the scholarships already set aside for them.”
Breaking down the CalKIDS Program
Launched in 2022, CalKIDS is an automatic scholarship program designed to make higher education more attainable for low-income newborns and public school students. Eligible participants can receive a maximum award of up to $1,500 per student, which can be used to cover qualified educational expenses such as tuition, books, computers, and other required supplies. To ensure the funds reach their intended targets, students must claim and use their accounts by age 26.
Addressing the cost of staying enrolled
For many of the 2.2 million students in the California Community College system, a few hundred dollars can be the deciding factor in whether they finish a semester. State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who chairs the board administering the funds, emphasized that the program is designed to support students long before they even set foot on campus.
“Imagine what $1,500 can mean for a first-generation community college student juggling two part-time jobs,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian. “It can be the difference between stopping out and staying enrolled.”
The data-sharing agreement aims to eliminate the bureaucratic hurdles that often prevent students from accessing state aid. By using the Cradle-to-Career Data System, the state can securely match student records to CalKIDS accounts, allowing colleges to conduct individualized outreach to those who haven’t yet claimed their money.
How students can claim funds
Since its inception, CalKIDS has supported nearly 70,000 students with more than $37 million. However, because many of these accounts are created automatically by the state, many eligible residents are unaware the money exists.
Students are encouraged to visit CalKIDS.org to confirm their eligibility and claim their scholarship. To register, students typically need their Statewide Student Identifier (SSID) or information provided by their local school district.