A recent community event at Golden 1 Credit Union in Fresno highlighted the increasing efforts of California’s CalKIDS program to engage families and help them access scholarship funds for their children's future education. Representatives from CalKIDS discussed how these funds could support students post-high school graduation. This initiative aims to provide seed money for college or career training to eligible public school students, particularly those from low-income households and English learners. Although participation has risen by nearly four percentage points since last year, a significant portion of eligible students remains unclaimed. The rise in engagement is attributed to expanded community outreach, targeted campaigns, and multilingual resources.
In an effort to boost awareness, the Golden 1 Credit Union hosted an event on April 5, 2025, where families learned about opening youth savings accounts while enjoying activities like face painting and games for younger attendees. Erica Wade-Lamas took advantage of this opportunity by registering three of her four children for interest-bearing funds through CalKIDS. Her excitement stems from knowing that this financial cushion will ease the burden on her family when her children graduate, allowing them to purchase items such as laptops without additional strain.
The CalKIDS program was established in 2022 with the goal of automatically awarding at least $500 to eligible students who are either classified as low-income or English learners. Currently, over 3.9 million school-aged children across California qualify for these funds. Despite the automatic deposit into named accounts, families must actively claim these funds online before the student turns 26 years old. According to data from EdSource, only 8.3% of eligible families had claimed their accounts by 2024.
To address the challenge of reaching more families, new strategies have been implemented under the leadership of Cassandra DiBenedetto, appointed director in October 2024. She emphasizes understanding regional differences, noting that experiences vary widely between rural Modoc County and urban Los Angeles County. By collaborating with numerous organizations statewide, including schools and financial institutions, partnerships have grown from around 550 initially to over 1,000 today. These alliances have significantly boosted account claims, especially among high school graduates and current college students.
One beneficiary of the program, Thanh-Truc "April" Hoang, utilized her CalKIDS funds to cover parking expenses during her first year at UC Riverside. Her decision alleviated financial stress on her parents and set a positive example for her siblings and cousins. Such personal stories underscore the importance of effective communication and accessibility in ensuring all eligible families can benefit from the program.
Language barriers have also been addressed through expanded multilingual materials and simplified informational content. Rebranding efforts now refer to the funds as scholarships rather than savings accounts, making the concept less intimidating and more relatable. As a result, over 94,000 accounts were claimed during one targeted marketing campaign alone, demonstrating the effectiveness of tailored outreach initiatives.
While progress is evident, challenges remain as eligibility expands to include all foster youth starting next school year. Despite budget constraints affecting some outreach efforts, the team remains optimistic, viewing each challenge as an opportunity to refine and improve the program. With continued growth and adaptation, CalKIDS aims to empower even more California students toward brighter educational futures.