California Families Can Claim CalKIDS Scholarships for 2026

California is reinforcing its commitment to youth with the CalKIDS Scholarship, a program designed to support over five million children and students statewide. With an investment of $2 billion, CalKIDS represents the largest education-focused asset-building initiative in the United States. This program provides automatic scholarship accounts that can help cover college or career training expenses after high school.

As families prepare for the new year, claiming a CalKIDS Scholarship Account offers a simple yet impactful way to support children’s futures. Eligible participants can receive between $175 and $1,500 in scholarship funds, requiring no application, essays, or income verification. This ease of access positions CalKIDS as one of the most straightforward scholarship options available to California families.

According to Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer and Chair of the ScholarShare Investment Board, “CalKIDS has been an amazing success, with nearly 1 million scholarship accounts already claimed by California families.” She emphasized that families still have a significant opportunity to take advantage of these funds, which can help alleviate college or career training costs and expand future possibilities for students.

Eligibility and Benefits of CalKIDS

More than 60% of public school students in grades 2 through 12 qualify for a CalKIDS Scholarship Account, potentially worth up to $1,500. When CalKIDS was launched in 2022, it provided accounts to students at all educational levels, meaning current college students may also utilize their CalKIDS funds. The funds are available until the recipient turns 26.

Additionally, every newborn in California on or after July 1, 2022, automatically receives a CalKIDS Scholarship Account worth up to $175. This includes an initial scholarship awarded at birth, with further incentives available if families link the account to a ScholarShare 529 College Savings Plan.

CalKIDS funds can be applied to various expenses, including tuition and fees, necessary books and supplies, computer equipment, and other qualified education costs at accredited institutions throughout the United States. This flexibility makes CalKIDS an attractive option for families seeking financial support for their children’s education.

To date, nearly 150,000 students have utilized their CalKIDS scholarship funds to assist with their academic endeavors. For instance, Bryan, a student at California State University, Fullerton, noted that CalKIDS provided “a financial ease into pursuing a degree.”

How to Claim Your CalKIDS Scholarship

Claiming a CalKIDS Scholarship is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few minutes at CalKIDS.org. For public school students, including those who have since entered college, families will need the Statewide Student Identifier (SSID), a 10-digit number available on school portals, report cards, or by contacting the student’s previous school from the 2021–22, 2022–23, or 2023–24 academic years.

For children born in California post July 1, 2022, families require the child’s date of birth and the Local Registration Number, a 13-digit number found on the birth certificate. Once an account is established, families can log in anytime to check their scholarship balance, link it to a ScholarShare 529 account, learn about acceptable fund usage, and request disbursements as the student enrolls in higher education or career training.

CalKIDS exemplifies California’s long-term dedication to enhancing opportunities, decreasing educational expenses, and investing in the success of its youth. Families are encouraged to visit CalKIDS.org this holiday season to verify if they can claim a scholarship account, ensuring that their children are positioned for future academic success.