The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS), the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the California Cradle-to-Career (C2C) Data System are collaborating to identify community college students who are eligible for CalKIDS scholarships but haven’t claimed the funds, according to a recent news release. The agencies found there are 40,000 students at California community colleges in this group, with approximately $20 million in CalKIDS scholarships unclaimed.
The new initiative will share data between CalKIDS, the C2C system and community college districts, providing authorized college staff a report on student eligibility for CalKIDS scholarships. From there, districts can conduct individualized outreach to students who have not yet claimed their available scholarships.
The CalKIDS program started in 2022 with the goal of jump-starting college savings for California youth, automatically setting aside a CalKIDS Scholarship Account with $175 in it for every kid born on or after July 1 of that year. Older students — anyone who was enrolled in grades 1-12 during the 2021-22 academic year — can claim up to $1,500 if they meet necessary criteria. For example, foster children can earn an additional $500, homeless students can receive an additional $500, and low-income or English-learner students can earn an additional $500.
Since its launch, CalKIDS has provided more than $37 million to 70,000 students in community colleges, according to the news release.
“Imagine what $1,500 from CalKIDS can mean for a first-generation community college student juggling two part-time jobs,” Sonya Christian, chancellor of California Community Colleges, said in a public statement. “It can be the difference between stopping out and staying enrolled.”
According to its website, the California C2C Data System was first authorized in 2019 and has been operating with student data since 2023. It is designed to be a one-stop shop for statewide data on a variety of variables, from ZIP codes to test scores to occupation status. The C2C system’s dashboards and data-informed resources were intended to help students, educators and researchers better understand college planning.
“This partnership reflects California’s commitment to ensuring that students can access the opportunities already available to them,” California State Treasurer Fiona Ma said in a public statement. “Through CalKIDS, we are investing in students long before they arrive on a college campus, and this effort helps ensure those scholarships are actually reaching the students who need them most.”
According to the National College Attainment Network, many states have implemented programs that share data from students’ Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with school districts in hopes of helping students complete the application and find scholarships for which they are eligible.
“This collaboration demonstrates the power of connected systems, with Californians at the heart of our shared goals,” Mary Ann Bates, executive director of the California C2C Data System, said in a public statement.
