California program may already have money set aside to help your child | Opinion
An existing California program may already have money set aside to help your child invest in their future. It is part of California’s growing effort to pair financial literacy with real, early wealth-building assets for children and families.
It’s called CalKIDS, and it provides scholarships to eligible children across the state to help pay for college or career training.
Administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, under the State Treasurer’s Office, CalKIDS is the nation’s largest child development account program. As of May 1, more than 5.6 million children across California have CalKIDS Scholarships, backed by a $2.2 billion state-funded investment, according to data provided by the board.
The program was created because California recognizes that for millions of children — especially those growing up in low-income households or foster care — the barrier to opportunity is not knowledge alone. It’s about access, assets and whether a child has an early investment in their name that makes planning for the future feel possible.
That is a different way of thinking about opportunity.
Through CalKIDS, 100% of California babies born on or after July 1, 2022, are eligible for a CalKIDS Scholarship of up to $175, and roughly 60% of public school students in grades 2-12 are eligible for a scholarship worth up to $1,500 for college or career training.
Families do not need to apply, as CalKIDS Scholarship Accounts are automatically created in each eligible child’s name. Families simply need to claim their account on the CalKIDS website.
Public school students will need their 10-digit Statewide Student Identifier, which can usually be found through the student’s school portal (or it can be requested from a school). Families claiming an account for a newborn can use the child’s 13-digit Local Registration Number, listed on the birth certificate.
Children are more likely to believe in their future when someone has already invested in it. That same idea is now shaping how California supports young people facing some of the greatest barriers.
Our state is also expanding the commitment to early wealth-building through HOPE Trust Accounts, a new program that provides eligible foster youth and youth who lost a parent or guardian to COVID with an initial $3,000 deposit, representing more than $100 million in state investment.
Beginning in the 2027–28 academic year, personal finance education will also be required for high school students across California. That shift — from teaching financial responsibility to creating financial opportunity — is where real change happens.
And it’s working: More than 900,000 CalKIDS scholarships have been claimed, and more than 155,000 students have used their funds for real education expenses, including community college, university, career training and trade school pathways.
If done right, early wealth accounts could be transformative. But these accounts must be automatic, meaningful and trusted, removing barriers while giving families real investments that make opportunity feel within reach.
Financial literacy still has a role to play, but it shouldn’t be the entry point. It should come after a child already has a financial foundation.
With even a small financial foundation, the future feels different. College feels possible. Training feels within reach. And planning feels worth it.
Cassandra DiBenedetto is executive director of ScholarShare Investment Board.
This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "California program may already have money set aside to help your child | Opinion."