San Francisco, CA…Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom celebrate a huge milestone with one million CalKIDS “baby bond” accounts claimed by families across California. The state launched CalKIDS in 2022 — four years before the federal government enacted similar “Trump Accounts” — providing free funds for California’s kids to use for higher education and career training. Today the Governor is also announcing the California Golden Start Challenge, a joint effort with Invest America to help boost kids’ savings for college and career.

“Every kid deserves a shot at a bright future — no matter how much money their family makes. That’s why we created CalKIDS: to put up to $1,500 in the hands of kids to help pay for college, career training or whatever comes next. One million kids have already claimed their accounts, but millions more still have money waiting for them. We want every family to know: that money is yours — claim it, grow it, and put it to work for your child’s future. Together with Invest America and the launch of the California Golden Start Challenge, we’re giving our kids an even stronger opportunity to build the future they deserve.”

“As a mom, I know how much giving our kids the best start in life can mean for their future success. One million CalKIDS accounts is an incredible milestone and a testament to California’s bold investments for families across the state, helping give kids the tools and opportunities to reach their full potential.”

Launched by California as the nation’s first statewide children’s savings program at this scale, CalKIDS provides eligible children with publicly funded savings for college and career training. Families can claim their accounts and build on those savings over time, giving children a financial foundation for their future.

Now, California and InvestAmerica are taking the next step with the California Golden Start Challenge, a new effort calling on businesses and philanthropic leaders to invest in California’s children. Contributions will be split between eligible CalKIDS accounts and federal 530A accounts, creating new opportunities for families to build long-term savings.

Our kids are worth the investment — and California is making sure more of them have the tools, resources, and opportunity to build a stronger future.

A new public-private partnership for California’s kids

Through the California Golden Start Challenge, California and InvestAmerica are calling on private-sector and philanthropic leaders to help children build savings for the future by contributing to both CalKIDS accounts and federal 530A accounts.

Early partners are already stepping up:

• Micron Technology has pledged $250 million to help build children’s savings, including $250 seed deposits for children with accounts in Sacramento and Santa Clara counties.

• In San Francisco, an anonymous donor has given $3.5 million to create a $500 deposit for every child born in the city in 2026.

One million CalKIDS accounts claimed

California has established and funded more than 6 million CalKIDS accounts, representing more than $2.3 billion in college and career savings, with one million accounts now claimed by families.

The state provides eligible students with up to $1,500 in CalKIDS funds to help pay for eligible education expenses, including college and career training. Families can also contribute additional savings, allowing funds to grow over time.

“Every child should have the chance to build an ownership stake in their future. This is a simple, yet transformational idea that is bringing people together across the country, and California is leading the way,'” said Brad Gerstner, Founder and Chairman, Invest America. “Some of the state’s most dynamic companies and philanthropists have already stepped up, committing billions of dollars to Trump Accounts to invest in the next generation. Together, we can expand hope and opportunity for all California kids.”

“California is leading the nation by investing in children’s futures, and reaching 1 million claimed CalKIDS Scholarships is an extraordinary milestone,” said California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, Chair of the ScholarShare Investment Board. “Every scholarship claimed represents a student and family taking an important step toward college or career training. While we celebrate this achievement, our work continues until every eligible student has claimed the scholarship available to them.”

CalKIDS invests up to $1,500 for school-age children:

• $500 Automatic Deposit: Eligible low-income public school students in grades 1-12.

• $500 Additional Deposit: Eligible foster youth.

• $500 Additional Deposit: Eligible homeless youth.

Up to $175 for newborn children:

• $100 Automatic Deposit: Every eligible child born on or after July 1, 2023.

• $25 Additional Deposit: Those who claim their CalKIDS Scholarship Account – use the program’s online portal.

To date, more than 6 million CalKIDS accounts have been established and funded with more than $2.3 billion, including 1 million accounts claimed by families. The program has already helped 151,000 California students pursue their education, with $82.2 million distributed.

But millions of dollars in available savings remain unclaimed. Families can visit CalKIDS.org to determine eligibility and claim their account.

Building on this progress, with broad bipartisan support, the U.S. Treasury established the federal 530A accounts program giving every American child under age 18 with a Social Security number access to a tax-advantaged investment account. Family, friends and employers can contribute to a child’s account, while governments and philanthropists can make additional qualifying contributions to groups of children.

• $1,000 federal contribution for newborns: Every eligible child born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, can receive a $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury deposited directly into their federal 530A account and invested for their future.

• More than $800 million already committed for California kids: In one of the largest philanthropic commitments ever to benefit California children, Michael and Susan Dell will provide an additional $250 to 3.3 million eligible children across the state, representing more than $800 million in total contributions.

Preparing students with real-world money skills

The state’s efforts to prepare students early on for a healthier financial future through CalKIDS aligns with California’s adoption of a statewide personal finance curriculum guide to prepare students with real-world money skills.

California’s new personal finance curriculum guide ensures students gain practical, real-world financial skills before graduation. The curriculum guide — developed by the Instructional Quality Commission and adopted by the State Board of Education — includes:

• Banking, saving, and avoiding unnecessary fees

• Budgeting and managing everyday expenses

• Credit, debt, and credit scores

• Student loans and financing higher education and careers

• Investing, retirement savings, and wealth-building tools

• Pathways to college, careers, and apprenticeships

• Learning about scholarships, merit aid, student loans, and CalKids

The course will be offered beginning in the 2027–28 school year, with completion required for graduation starting with the class of 2030–31.

Last month, Governor Newsom and State Treasurer Fiona Ma also announced a collaboration with the Early Wealth Partnership to develop a new tool that will help families find and access children’s savings and other wealth-building resources for which they are already eligible. The effort is supported by Google.org.

About CalKIDS

Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, California became the first state in the nation to launch a statewide children’s savings account program at this scale. Launched in 2022, the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program, or CalKIDS, helps jumpstart college and career savings for children across the state by providing eligible students with scholarship accounts they can build on over time. Families can contribute additional savings where they are able, giving those dollars years to grow — and when funds are used for eligible education expenses, the earnings are tax-free.

About federal 530A accounts

Tax-advantaged children’s investment accounts established under federal law and backed by the United States Treasury. Every American child under the age of 18 with a Social Security number is eligible for an account. Family, friends, employers, governments, and philanthropists can all make additional contributions to a child’s account, building a financial foundation from the earliest years of life. Eligible newborns can receive a $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury; billions have been committed to provide contributions for older children.