Across Marin, partners worked together to help families access CalKIDS, a statewide program that provides college savings for eligible public school students and newborns. Through coordinated outreach and in-person events, families who were often unaware of the program claimed more than $47,000 to help cover future education costs like tuition, books, and supplies. This collective effort has removed small but significant barriers to future opportunity and demonstrates how collaboration is opening real pathways to college and career for students across the county.
Until a few months ago, most Marin families did not know they had access to free money for college or career training.
At recent events across Marin County, partners worked with families to connect them with this money through the CalKIDS program, California’s statewide children’s savings account program that automatically provides free college savings for public school students and newborns. Eligible K-12 students can access between $500 and $1,500 and even $25 to $100 for newborns. Signing up takes just a few minutes but can have a lifelong impact.
Research shows that even modest savings can make a difference. According to nonpartisan news organization CalMatters, low-income students with a college savings account are three times more likely to attend college and four times more likely to graduate than students without one. Programs like CalKIDS are a powerful tool to close opportunity gaps, but only if families know about them.
Thanks to the collective efforts of 10,000 Degrees, school counselors, college and career staff, and community organizations, students across Marin have started claiming this free money. Between October 2024 and March 2025, over 87 workshops helped students at Novato, San Rafael, and Terra Linda High Schools unlock more than $47,000 in CalKIDS savings.
"When I found out there was money set aside just for me, I was honestly shocked. My family and I did not even know programs like CalKIDS existed. It felt like a weight lifted, like college was not just a dream anymore, it was something I could actually reach. As a low-income student, anything helps, and knowing there is support out there makes a big difference."
Stories like this show the transformative power of connecting students and families with much-needed resources.
Turning Statewide Resources into Local Impact
After learning about CalKIDS at a 2023 StriveTogether convening, Marin Promise Partnership’s backbone team worked behind the scenes to connect statewide resources to local nonprofits and schools. By spreading the word, amplifying outreach, and showing up alongside partners at community events to help enroll students, we are working together so that more families have access to these life-changing opportunities.
There’s still more work to do. According to the State Treasurer’s office, as of March 31, 2025, Marin County had over 14,000 eligible CalKIDS accounts, yet only 1,716 have been claimed by families. That includes just 1,298 student accounts and 418 newborn accounts activated.
These numbers underscore both the progress made and the ongoing opportunity to reach more families with this information. By working together to spread the word, we can make sure every student has the resources and support to reach their full educational potential.
