Basics of CalKIDS

CalKIDS is a state program that gives children in California a jump start on saving for college. Newborns and eligible low-income public school students are automatically enrolled and given a CalKIDS college savings account with an initial deposit. Eligible participants are identified by data received from the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Education. There is no need to apply and no requirement that families make any kind of financial commitment.

Benefits of the CalKIDS program:

• Enrollment is automatic with each participant receiving a deposit in a CalKIDS college savings account to help pay for future higher education and career training expenses.
  Register to access your CalKIDS Account
• If parents or caregivers want to contribute they can easily open individual accounts through ScholarShare 529.
  Open a ScholarShare 529 account
• Link a ScholarShare 529 account to your CalKIDS account to see all your college savings in one place.
  Link your accounts
• CalKIDS savings can be used for qualified higher education expenses like tuition, books, computer equipment, supplies, and more at thousands of eligible schools across the country and even some abroad.

Low-income Public School Students, 1st–12th Grade

California public school students identified as low-income under the Local Control Funding Formula will be given CalKIDS accounts, if they were enrolled in 1st through 12th grades during the 2021-2022 academic year. In addition, CalKIDS accounts will be given to first graders who were enrolled during the 2022-2023 academic year, as well as subsequent years, and are identified as low-income by the Local Control Funding Formula.

Eligible low-income public school students receive a:

• $500 automatic deposit in a CalKIDS account for eligible low-income public school students
• $500 additional deposit in a CalKIDS account for eligible students identified as foster youth

$500 additional deposit in a CalKIDS account for eligible students identified as homeless