July 3, 2025, Sacramento, CA – Earlier this week, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the 2025-26 state budget announcing the allocation of $6.1 million to fund the expansion of Assembly Bill (AB) 2508, originally signed into law in September 2024 and sponsored by John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), which widens eligibility for a supplemental college savings account payment to all students in foster care. Research shows that children with college savings accounts are three times more likely to go to college and four times more likely to graduate.
College savings account payments are made through CalKIDS, a California program administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board. The program guarantees eligibility for any child born in California as of July 1, 2023 to receive up to $175. Additionally, since the 2022-2023 academic year, first grade students enrolled in a California public school who are low-income are eligible to receive a seed deposit of $500 and first grade students in foster care or experiencing homelessness receive an additional $500, for a total of up to $1,500.
Beginning in Fall 2025, AB 2508 expands eligibility so all foster youth in grades one through twelve receive this supplemental payment if they have not already—a win estimated to benefit over 12,000 young people statewide this academic school year and over 21,000 over the next three years. CalKIDS funds can be used at accredited educational institutions across the country and may cover educational expenses such as tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, and technology. Program participants have until age 26 to use their CalKIDS funds.
“We are committed to expanding opportunities for foster youth across California,” said California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, whose office oversees CalKIDS. “By strengthening the CalKIDS program, we’re helping more young people pursue higher education and build a strong foundation for their future. This investment underscores our dedication to equity, access, and the belief that every student deserves the chance to succeed.”
With a long track record of advocating for young people in foster care, JBAY successfully championed AB 2508 as part of its robust education-related agenda. “Students in foster care face enormous challenges and are often led to believe college isn’t within reach,” said former Senator and JBAY board chair John Burton. “This investment sends a powerful message: they belong in college, and California believes in them.”
Wednesday Pope, a JBAY Youth Advocate and student at Folsom Lake College, entered foster care as a newborn. Although she spent over eight years in and out of the system, Pope was not in care in first grade and was thus ineligible for a CalKIDS account. “It’s taken me seven years to get where I am today. Every dollar I spent toward school was a dollar I didn’t have for food or housing,” Pope said. “Having a CalKIDS account could have given me the resources I needed to stay in school from my first semester.” She plans to transfer to a four-year university this year, where she will continue her studies in law and public policy.
In addition to Treasurer Ma, JBAY is grateful for the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, and Senator Scott Weiner, all of whom contributed tremendous vision, fortitude, and care in this effort.
To register and claim a CalKIDS account, a student must visit the online portal at calkids.org and provide their birthday, 10-digit Statewide Student Identifier (SSID), or—if they received a mailed notice—their unique registration code, as well as the county where the student attended school when the account was created. Once on the portal, students can view their account online and any earnings.
John Burton Advocates for Youth is a statewide organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for youth in California who have been in foster care or experienced homelessness by advocating for better laws, training communities to strengthen local practices, and conducting research to inform policy solutions.
For more information, please contact JBAY Director of Education Jessica Petrass at [email protected].