MONTEREY COUNTY — California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond joined Monterey County education leaders last week to highlight financial literacy efforts and encourage families to claim CalKIDS scholarship accounts available to eligible students.
The Sept. 2 event at the Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE) in Salinas marked a statewide milestone of 1 million CalKIDS accounts claimed and highlighted the more than $40.5 million in scholarship funds available to eligible students in Monterey County.
A total of 69,017 Monterey County students are eligible for CalKIDS scholarships, representing more than 77% of students in the county. MCOE, Hartnell College Foundation, Bright Futures Monterey County, local school districts and community partners are working to increase awareness and help eligible families access the funds.
“Financial literacy is about giving young people the tools to build their own futures,” Thurmond said. “We fought to make personal finance part of every California student’s education because students should graduate knowing how to budget, save, invest and make informed financial decisions. CalKIDS builds on that commitment by giving eligible students a real investment in the opportunities ahead.”
California is preparing to implement a new personal finance graduation requirement under Assembly Bill 2927. Beginning with the 2027-28 school year, public high schools must offer a standalone personal finance course, with completion required beginning with the graduating class of 2030-31. The State Board of Education adopted California’s Personal Finance Curriculum Guide in March.
CalKIDS provides eligible California students with scholarship accounts that can be used for qualified higher education and career training expenses. Eligible students can receive up to $1,500 based on eligibility and qualifying incentives. The funds can be used at eligible colleges, universities, vocational schools and professional schools for expenses, including tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, and computer equipment.
“Preparing students for success means giving them both the knowledge to make sound financial decisions and the resources to pursue their educational goals,” said Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Deneen Guss. “Monterey County has already made meaningful progress in helping families access CalKIDS Scholarships, and now we are building on that momentum. By combining financial literacy education with expanded outreach to eligible families, we are helping ensure every student has the opportunity to plan for their future with confidence.”
During last week’s event, education leaders demonstrated how families can claim available CalKIDS accounts and discussed how the scholarships can support a range of postsecondary pathways, including universities, career technical education, apprenticeships and certificate programs.
Families can check eligibility and claim a CalKIDS account through CalKIDS.org using a student’s 10-digit Statewide Student Identifier, date of birth and county of enrollment.
“With over 77% Monterey County students eligible for a CalKIDS Scholarship, this is a tremendous opportunity to connect more families with resources that can support college or career training,” said Cassandra DiBenedetto, executive director of the ScholarShare Investment Board, which administers the CalKIDS Program. “We’re proud to partner with MCOE and Bright Futures to help more families access these scholarships and put them to use for their students’ futures.”
The countywide outreach effort will continue through schools, family advocates and community organizations, with workshops and multilingual resources available to help families claim accounts and learn more about financial education and postsecondary opportunities.
“When we help families claim their CalKIDS Scholarship Account, we’re doing more than unlocking a scholarship; we’re helping unlock potential, changing expectations and building a brighter future for the next generation,” said Tony Amezcua, director of Bright Futures Educational Partnership.
