CA High School Seniors Urged To Apply For CalKIDS College, Career Training Scholarships

California high school seniors are encouraged to check their eligibility for a CalKIDS Scholarship. The March 2 priority financial aid deadline is approaching for students completing the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA), according to a recent news release.

These scholarships can help pay for college or career training, a spokesperson for the group said.

The scholarship is designed to be easy to claim, without requirements for essay submissions, recommendation letters, or a minimum GPA. CalKIDS is the nation's largest child development account program. The amounts allotted to each county varies across the state, with multiple millions in CalKIDS Scholarship funds are available in each county.

• Alameda: $52M
• Los Angeles: $471M
• Orange: $125M
• Napa: $5M
• Riverside: $118M
• San Diego: $136M
• Sacramento: $73M

State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, chairs the ScholarShare Investment Board, which administers CalKIDS. She described the program as help amid an overwhelming time. "CalKIDS was created to support students at moments when financial decisions can feel overwhelming." Ma said. "The scholarship support can empower students and families to make confident financial choices."

Statewide, over 60% of public school students in grades 2–12 are eligible for a CalKIDS Scholarship, which can be up to $1,500. Some college-age students may also have a scholarship available. The funds can be used for qualified higher education expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, and computer equipment.

Anyssa Tellez-Iniesta, a student from College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Riverside County, shared her experience with being a scholarship recipient.

"It just really helped me when I needed it at the time," she said. The added funds really helped when she needed school supplies and funds for a driver's permit.

Schools across California are required to share CalKIDS information with students who submit the FAFSA or CADAA. Claiming a CalKIDS Scholarship is simple and can be done online, according to the release.

Students or families need the student’s Statewide Student Identifier (SSID). This can be obtained by contacting the student’s school or by visiting CaliforniaColleges.edu. After obtaining the SSID, students can visit CalKIDS.org to check eligibility and claim their scholarship account. This initiative includes a partnership with the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). Students applying for state financial aid can view their CalKIDS eligibility through CSAC’s WebGrants 4 Students portal.

Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission spoke on the initiative.

"We are grateful to CalKIDS for this partnership. Together, we can help make college affordable for many more Californians." She also stated that utilizing data sharing across state agencies can close information silos.

Statewide, over $50 million in CalKIDS Scholarship funds have already been used. For eligibility details and to claim an account, students can visit www.CalKIDS.org.