By CalNews360 Staff
Published: August 21, 2026
Millions of California children have money waiting for them through a state program designed to help families save for college and career training — but many families have yet to claim their children’s accounts.
On Friday, California officials announced that 1 million families have now claimed CalKIDS accounts, marking a major milestone for the state’s children’s savings program.
But the state says millions more eligible children still have money waiting to be claimed. More than 6 million CalKIDS accounts have been established, representing more than $2.3 billion in savings for California children.
For parents, the important question is:
Could your child have a CalKIDS account waiting for them?
What is CalKIDS?
CalKIDS is a California state program that automatically creates savings accounts for eligible children.
The money is intended to help pay for college, vocational training and other qualified higher-education expenses in the future.
Families don’t have to make an initial contribution to receive an eligible account.
The program was launched in 2022 and is administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, a California state agency.
How much money could a child receive?
The amount depends on the child’s eligibility.
For eligible public-school students, the basic CalKIDS contribution is $500.
An eligible student identified as a foster youth can receive another $500, while an eligible student experiencing homelessness can receive an additional $500.
That means some eligible students can receive up to $1,500.
However, not every child receives $1,500. The amount depends on the child’s circumstances and eligibility.
What about babies born in California?
There is also money available for California-born babies.
All children born in California on or after July 1, 2022, are eligible for a CalKIDS account regardless of family income.
For babies born on or after July 1, 2023, the initial deposit is $100.
Babies born between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, received an initial deposit of $25.
Parents can receive an additional $25 by claiming the account, and a further $50 may be available by linking the CalKIDS account with a ScholarShare 529 account.
That means eligible newborn accounts can reach up to $175 under the current structure.
Who can qualify as a school student?
CalKIDS is not automatically available to every school-age child.
Eligible students generally include qualifying low-income or English Learner students attending California public schools.
The program uses information supplied by the California Department of Education and local school districts to determine eligibility.
Students in grades 1 through 12 may qualify under the program’s eligibility rules, including students who meet specific low-income, English Learner, foster-youth or homelessness criteria.
How do parents check if their child has an account?
Parents can check eligibility through the official CalKIDS website.
For a California-born child, parents generally need:
- The child’s date of birth
- The county where the child was born
- The child’s Local Registration Number from the birth certificate or the CalKIDS code provided by the state
For school-age students, parents generally need:
- The student’s date of birth
- The county where the student was enrolled
- The student’s Statewide Student Identifier (SSID) or CalKIDS code
The state also provides an online eligibility tool.
Check CalKIDS eligibility and claim an account
What if parents never received a letter?
Not receiving a letter doesn’t necessarily mean the child isn’t eligible.
For newborns, California says parents can use the Local Registration Number on the child’s birth certificate to claim the account.
For students, the SSID may be available through the student’s school portal, transcript or report card, or parents can contact the school directly.
Parents should also be aware that newborn information can take time to reach the program after the birth is registered.
What can the money be used for?
CalKIDS funds aren’t intended to be withdrawn as ordinary spending money.
The savings can be used for qualified education expenses at eligible institutions, including:
- College tuition and fees
- Books and supplies
- Room and board
- Computer equipment
- Vocational and professional education
The funds can be used at eligible educational institutions across the United States.
California wants more families to claim the accounts
The announcement of the one-million-family milestone comes with a new push to get more families involved.
California has established and funded more than 6 million CalKIDS accounts, but only 1 million have so far been claimed by families.
The state is also launching the California Golden Start Challenge, a new public-private partnership intended to encourage companies and philanthropic organizations to contribute additional money toward children’s savings.
Some early commitments are already substantial.
Micron Technology, for example, has pledged $250 million toward children’s savings, including $250 deposits for eligible children with accounts in Sacramento and Santa Clara counties.
This isn’t a cash payment to parents
One important point parents should understand:
CalKIDS is not a $1,500 cash check that families can spend today.
The money is held in a children’s savings account and is intended primarily for qualified higher-education and career-training expenses.
The amount also varies significantly depending on the child’s eligibility.
Why parents should check
Even if a family doesn’t expect to have enough money to pay for college, an existing CalKIDS account can provide a starting point for future education savings.
The state has already funded the accounts.
The first step for parents is simply to determine whether their child is eligible and, if so, claim the account.
The bottom line
California says more than 6 million CalKIDS accounts have been established, representing more than $2.3 billion in children’s savings.
Only 1 million accounts have been claimed so far, meaning many eligible families may still have an account waiting for them.
Depending on eligibility, school-age children can receive up to $1,500, while California-born babies are eligible for a separate savings benefit that can reach up to $175 under the current incentive structure.
If you have a child born in California since July 1, 2022, or a child who attends a California public school, checking the official CalKIDS eligibility tool could be worthwhile.
Official source: California Governor’s Office and CalKIDS.
Image note: The image used with this article is AI-generated for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an actual family, child, government announcement, or CalKIDS account.
