Innovative California Partnership Expands Access to CalKIDS Scholarships, Helping More Students Pay for Higher Education

OCEANSIDE, CA — Today, the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), the ScholarShare Investment Board (SIB), and Oceanside Unified School District (OUSD) hosted a press conference to announce Phase 2 of a historic partnership and celebrate a breakthrough in college affordability: more than 100,000 California students have successfully claimed over $50 million in CalKIDS Accounts in just six months—a direct result of a first-of-its-kind interagency data-sharing partnership between CSAC and SIB, which administers CalKIDS under the California State Treasurer’s Office. 

Research shows that children with even minimal savings are 3x more likely to attend college and 4x more likely to graduate. CalKIDS Scholarships help turn that possibility into action by giving students and families a clearer pathway to higher education and a meaningful resource to help pursue it.

A Student-Centered and Life-Changing Collaboration

Phase 1 of the CSAC and SIB partnership, launched in October 2025, seamlessly integrated CalKIDS Scholarship Accounts into WebGrants 4 Students, CSAC’s portal through which students and families can access updates and assigned tasks as they navigate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Application (CADAA). This integration informs students when they are eligible to claim CalKIDS Scholarship funds already set aside for them and prompts them to claim these funds as a step in the financial aid application process.

Today’s Phase 2 media announcement shared that high school counselors and the public now have access to a new CalKIDS Dashboard that allows users to see claim rates by county, school district, and school site for students in grades 9-12. In addition, high school counselors will have access to pull reports for their 9th through 12th grade students to support direct outreach, helping more students claim their CalKIDS Scholarships and access funds to help pay for higher education expenses.

“Behind every one of these accounts is a student whose path becomes a little clearer," said Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission. "Even modest savings can dramatically increase the likelihood that students will apply for college and career programs, changing how they envision their own possibilities while transforming the future California workforce."

“This partnership is helping remove barriers and make it easier for students to access scholarship funds already set aside for them,” said Cassandra DiBenedetto, Executive Director, ScholarShare Investment Board. “By giving counselors and school communities better tools for direct outreach, we can help more students claim their CalKIDS Scholarships and take an important step toward their higher education goals.”

Local Impact in Oceanside

The announcement was held at Oceanside High School in Oceanside, California to highlight how local educators are utilizing these new tools. In San Diego County, more than $135 million in CalKIDS Scholarships is available for public school students in grades 2–12, and 1 in 2 students are eligible for scholarships worth up to $1,500. 

“The fact that more millions of dollars in CalKIDS Scholarships is available right here in San Diego County is incredibly significant. It represents a real opportunity to support our students’ futures and ensure more of them have access to the resources they need to pursue college and career pathways,” said Dr. Julie Vitale, Superintendent of the Oceanside Unified School District.

Statewide, CalKIDS has invested more than $2.2 billion to support more than 5 million California children, making it the largest children’s development account program in the country. 

Claiming a CalKIDS Scholarship at CalKIDS.org takes just minutes, making it one of the easiest steps students and families can take toward paying for college or career training.

"Press conference speakers included CSAC Executive Director Dr. Daisy Gonzales, SIB Executive Director Cassandra DiBenedetto, OUSD Superintendent Dr. Julie A. Vitale, TRIO Program Coordinator at El Camino and Oceanside High Schools, Brenda Aguilar, and Jennifer Pieri, El Camino High School’s College & Career Guidance Tech."

For more press conference photos and videos, please follow this media link.

The California Student Aid Commission currently serves over 2.2 million students and administers over $3.9 billion of student financial aid programs and services, including the Cal Grant, the Middle Class Scholarship, and the California Dream Act Application. The Commission serves as a resource for policymakers and the public on college affordability and financing issues, and advocates for policy changes to eliminate cost as a barrier to any qualified California student pursuing a higher education. Visit our website at www.csac.ca.gov or follow us on social media by clicking on our Link Tree.   

The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS) is the nation’s largest child development account program, providing scholarships for higher education. Administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, and Chaired by State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, the program is designed to promote the pursuit of higher education statewide by empowering families to build assets, nurture savings habits, and raise their educational aspirations. Eligible public school students can receive CalKIDS Scholarships worth up to $1,500 and every child born in California on or after July 1, 2022, is awarded a CalKIDS Scholarship worth up to $175, ensuring more families have the resources needed to support their children’s education. To learn more, visit CalKIDS.org.

Oceanside Unified School District (OUSD) serves approximately 14,500 students and is committed to ensuring all students graduate college and career-ready. Guided by a student-first approach, OUSD prioritizes educational equity by providing the academic, social, and emotional support every student needs to thrive. The district values diversity as a strength and fosters inclusive, collaborative learning environments rooted in respect, integrity, and empathy. Through initiatives such as community schools and dedicated support for military-affiliated families, OUSD continues to create opportunities for all students to succeed as responsible global citizens and future leaders.