Free $500+ for College or Career Training? CalKIDS Webinar January 22

01.06.2026

Free $500+ for College or Career Training? CalKIDS Webinar January 22

Did you know your learner may already have at least $500 waiting for them for college or career training? As part of a $2 billion state investment, California has launched the CalKIDS program to help more than 5 million students jumpstart their savings.

This is real money provided by the State of California—no strings attached. We want to ensure every eligible Empower Generations High School family claims theirs.

How to Claim Your Scholarship in 3 Easy Steps

Checking your eligibility is quick and takes only a few minutes:

Locate your learner’s SSID: Your learner’s Statewide Student Identifier (SSID) can be found on their Report of Progress or transcript. Visit the Parent Portal in Pathways and go to Reports > Transcripts > Preview Transcripts. (If you need help, please contact our office.)
Visit the Website: Go to CalKIDS.org and click “Confirm Eligibility.”
Enter the SSID: You will find out instantly if your learner has an account.

Join Our Exclusive Webinar

Want to learn more? Join iLEAD and staff from the California State Treasurer’s Office for an information session on how to maximize this program.

When: Thursday, January 22, at 6:30 PM
Where: Zoom
What: Learn about CalKIDS eligibility, how to link a ScholarShare 529 account to track your savings, and how to maximize tax-free growth.

We will send timely reminders ahead of this event.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the school-age program, students must meet at least one of the following requirements:

Low-Income: Qualified for free/reduced-price meals or certified through CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal.
English Learner: Identified as an English Learner via the ELPAC assessment.
Foster/Homeless: Students who are migrant, homeless, or in foster care.
Newborns and Young Children: Any child born in California on or after July 1, 2022.

Not eligible for CalKIDS? You can still build a bright future! Learn how to open your own ScholarShare 529 account here or attend a separate webinar at scholarshare529.com/events.

Questions? Visit the CalKIDS Help page for more details.

Don’t leave this money on the table—check your status today!