By SDCN Staff
Sacramento, CA–The California Student Aid Commission announced a new data-sharing partnership with the ScholarShare Investment Board to improve access to the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program.
The program, known as CalKIDS, was launched in 2022 by the State of California with a clear mission: to help jumpstart college savings for children statewide by awarding scholarship accounts to youth across the state. Administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, CalKIDS offers financial support to eligible school students and all children born in California on or after July 1, 2022, along with other financial incentives.
“Our mission with CalKIDS is to break down barriers to higher education by giving families across California a stronger financial foundation and opening doors to opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach,” said Fiona Ma, CPA, California State Treasurer and Chair of the ScholarShare Investment Board. “By partnering with the California Student Aid Commission, we can connect directly with students, ensure they understand their eligibility, and guide them in taking full advantage of these scholarships to pursue college and career success.”
This new data-sharing partnership will enable CSAC to support students and families by providing access to college affordability options earlier. More than 2.2 million students and high school counselors, and financial aid administrators who use the saving program’s existing infrastructure will be able to learn about CalKIDS. Eligible students will be notified and connected back to CalKIDS and the ScholarShare Investment Board, who will notify families and students of their accounts and how to use them to pay for their higher education dreams.
“We are grateful to CalKIDS for this partnership. Together, we can help make college affordable for many more Californians,” said Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission. “Utilizing the power of data sharing across state agencies, we can close information siloes. CSAC connects with 2.2 million students, all K-12 districts, and every institution of higher education in our state. We are the partner that can connect students and families with CalKIDS, and CalKIDS is the missing link when we seek to promote educational equity in our state.”
CSAC will conduct new outreach modalities as early as this October, with additional outreach and professional development for higher education and K-12 staff expected in Spring 2026.
