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Free College Saving Accounts - CalKIDS

Free College Saving Accounts - CalKIDS

Phone number
1 (888) 445-2377
Category
Children
Student
Auto tags
Eligibility
California public school students identified as eligible through the Local Control Funding Formula and newborns born in California
Auto Summary
The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS) provides eligible participants with college savings accounts, including seed deposits for future higher education expenses. Participants can also establish accounts with ScholarShare 529. Eligibility is determined by the Local Control Funding Formula, and information is sourced from the California Department of Education. Important investment risks and penalties for non-qualified withdrawals are outlined, and the program is managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc.
Value
Free college savings accounts with seed deposits to help pay for future higher education expenses
Espanol
Cuentas de ahorro universitario gratuitas - CalKIDS - CalKIDS es un programa del estado de California que ofrece cuentas de ahorro universitario gratuitas con depositos iniciales para ninos elegibles. Los recien nacidos y estudiantes de escuelas publicas de bajos ingresos pueden calificar para recibir fondos para futuros gastos de educacion superior.
URL
https://calkids.org/
Last verified: 2026-05-17 — Program is active and expanding in 2026.

What CalKIDS gives you

CalKIDS is a free college savings account from the State of California. The state opens an account in your child's name and puts money in it. You don't pay anything. The money grows until your child is ready for college, career training, or trade school.
You can get up to $1,500 for K-12 students or up to $175 for newborns — but you have to claim the account. The money is there waiting; California cannot give it to you unless you register.

Who qualifies

Newborns (automatic): Every baby born in California on or after July 1, 2022 gets an account automatically. No income limit. [Source: calkids.org/get-started (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Public school students (automatic): Low-income students enrolled in California public school during 2021-22, 2022-23, or 2023-24 — including English learners, foster youth, and homeless youth. Eligibility is based on the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), the same formula your school uses for free meals. [Source: icangotocollege.com/financial-aid/calkids (accessed 2026-05-17)]
For details on whether your child is on the eligibility list, see <page url="https://www.notion.so/07fe94da3aa146c1be51acb657bf63bc">CalKIDS Eligibility</page>.

How much money

Newborns born in California:
  • $25 starter deposit (if born July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023)
  • $100 starter deposit (if born on or after July 1, 2023)
  • +$25 bonus when you claim the account
  • +$50 bonus if you open a linked ScholarShare 529 with $50 of your own money (see the 2026 promo below)
K-12 public school students (up to $1,500 total):
  • $500 base deposit for low-income or English learner students
  • +$500 if also identified as foster youth
  • +$500 if also identified as homeless
[Source: scholarshipsfree.com/calkids-scholarship-program-2026 (accessed 2026-05-17)]

How to claim the account

It takes about 10 minutes online at calkids.org. You need different info depending on your child:
For a newborn: child's date of birth + the 13-digit Local Registration Number from the birth certificate.
For a K-12 student: the 10-digit Statewide Student Identifier (SSID). You can find it on a report card, on the school's parent portal, or by calling the school office and asking for "my child's SSID."
After you register, you can log in any time to see the balance, link a ScholarShare 529, or request a payout once your child enrolls in college or trade school. [Source: calkids.org/get-started (accessed 2026-05-17)]

2026 bonus: free $50

Open a ScholarShare 529 account on or after February 1, 2026 with at least $50 of your own money and link it to your child's CalKIDS account by May 31, 2026. California will add an extra $50 to the CalKIDS account by September 30, 2026. [Source: calkids.org/earn-50 (accessed 2026-05-17)]

What the money can pay for

  • Tuition and fees at any U.S. college, community college, or accredited career/trade program
  • Books and supplies
  • Computers and required equipment
  • Room and board (if enrolled at least half-time)
Funds stay in the account until your child uses them. There is no expiration as long as the program continues.

Common pitfalls

  • Don't wait. The money exists whether or not you claim it, but you cannot withdraw it until you register. Families who never claim leave the money sitting.
  • You don't need to add your own money. The state's deposit is free. Adding your own through a ScholarShare 529 is optional — but doing so unlocks the $50 bonus.
  • Non-college withdrawals are taxed. If your child doesn't use the money for school or training, withdrawing it triggers a 10% federal tax penalty plus 2.5% California penalty on the earnings.

Where to get help

  • CalKIDS helpline: 1 (888) 445-2377
  • In Spanish: calkids.org has a Spanish toggle in the top menu
  • At your school: ask the office or counselor for help finding the SSID

Sources

  • CalKIDS official site — calkids.org (accessed 2026-05-17)
Freshness check 2026-05-30 — act fast, deadline is May 31, 2026: The $50 linking bonus above is confirmed. To get it, open a ScholarShare 529 (on/after Feb 1, 2026) with at least $50 of your own money and link it to your child's CalKIDS account by May 31, 2026; California adds $50 to the CalKIDS account by September 30, 2026. The child must be 14 or younger as of May 31, 2026. Separately, a "529 Day" promo also runs May 20–31, 2026: open a new ScholarShare 529, use promo code 529Day26, deposit $50, and set up $50/month auto-contributions for 6 months to earn another $50 (paid ~Jan 31, 2027). The base CalKIDS deposits ($500–$1,500 K-12, up to $175 newborns) have no deadline — claim those any time. Source: [calkids.org/earn-50, ScholarShare 529 Day 2026; verified 2026-05-30]