Orange County’s public high school students may have some extra scholarship money available to them.
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Nearly half of the county’s public high schoolers are eligible for a CalKids scholarship, an account established by the state when they were younger. Students and their families are encouraged to check if they qualify, as the program says it has more than $123 million available to award.
Students — or their parents or guardians — can check their eligibility and claim their CalKids scholarship by visiting calkids.org with their Statewide Student Identifier.
Scholarships must be claimed on or before a student’s 26th birthday, said Cassandra DiBenedetto, executive director of the ScholarShare Investment Board.
Kids born in California after June 30, 2022, are eligible for scholarships worth up to $175. More money can be added to their account later, based on families’ income levels, if they are in the foster care system or if they are homeless, said Vanessa Vizard, a spokesperson for the state program.
These scholarships, which can be up to $1,500, are funded through general fund dollars in the state’s 529 savings plan and can be used both in and out of state, DiBenedetto said.
Funds for scholarships that aren’t claimed are re-allocated to other students, Vizard said.
As of May 29, the last date the data was available, only about 19.8% of Orange County high schoolers had claimed their scholarship, according to the CalKIDS high school dashboard.
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The scholarships are available for public school students to help pay for college or career training at accredited colleges and universities, community colleges, trade schools and vocational programs for qualified educational expenses, such as tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, as well as computer equipment, CalKIDS said in a news release.
CalKIDS, the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program, says it’s working in partnership with the California Student Aid Commission to give counselors access to data so they can identify eligible ninth through 12th grade students and support direct outreach.
“This innovative partnership is transforming how millions of California students access the resources that make college possible. Students can now claim their CalKIDS Account and (apply) for financial aid more seamlessly,” said Daisy Gonzales, CSAC executive director.
“We’re removing barriers at the exact moment that students are making decisions about their future, which can influence whether a student enrolls, persists and ultimately graduates while addressing basic needs,” Gonzales said.
CalKIDS is the nation’s largest child development account program and “represents California’s investment in the promise and potential of our students,” said California Treasurer Fiona Ma, who administers the ScholarShare Investment Board and chairs the program.
“These scholarships send a powerful message to families across our state: We believe in our young people, we are investing in their future and we want every student to know that college or career training is within reach,” Ma said.
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