Assemblymember Diane Papan Co-Hosts Successful CalKIDS Webinar

San Mateo, CA — Assemblymember Diane Papan successfully co-hosted a virtual CalKIDS webinar on Thursday, August 14, 2025, helping local families learn about and claim CalKIDS Scholarship Accounts. The well-attended event was presented in partnership with the CalKIDS Program and the Childcare Coordinating Council of San Mateo County (4Cs) and equipped families with the knowledge and tools to access valuable state-funded scholarship accounts for their children.

CalKIDS, California’s statewide children’s development account program launched in 2022 by the ScholarShare Investment Board, provides scholarships for college, vocational school, or career training. Every child born in California on or after July 1, 2022, received a CalKIDS Scholarship ranging from $25 to $175, while eligible public school students received $500—and up to $1,500 for foster youth and students experiencing homelessness.

“CalKIDS is a transformative program that helps families take early steps to help our children succeed,” said Assemblymember Papan. “This seminar gave San Mateo County families the tools to claim these accounts and secure a stronger future for their children. I was proud to partner with CalKIDS and 4Cs to make this opportunity widely known and accessible.”

State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Chair of the ScholarShare Investment Board, praised the impact of the event: “Our goal is ensuring every eligible child in California benefits from CalKIDS. This webinar helped cut through complexity and made claiming a scholarship simple, providing families with direct funding for their child’s future education.”

The financial benefits available to families included:

• $25–$100 for California newborns (depending on birth date)

• An additional $25 when parents claimed their child’s CalKIDS Scholarship Account

• $50 for linking a CalKIDS Account to a ScholarShare 529 account

• $500 for eligible public school students, with up to $1,500 for foster youth and students experiencing homelessness

In San Mateo County alone, as of June 30, 2025, more than $20.3 million had been allocated for approximately 38,600 eligible families—an extraordinary investment in the county’s youth.

“At 4Cs, we're committed to empowering families with vital financial resources and support,” said David Flieshman, 4Cs Executive Director. “The CalKIDS program is a valuable tool to help parents open doors to future opportunities for their children, and this event directly helped families connect with those resources.”

Statewide, CalKIDS has invested over $2 billion in scholarships for more than 5 million California children. Assemblymember Papan has worked closely with the program to ensure families across San Mateo County claim their share of this historic investment.

The August 14 webinar drew strong participation, with families joining in multiple languages—including Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese—and left many parents and caregivers better equipped to secure scholarship funds for their children’s education.