To ensure that every child: is prepared for school, succeeds in and out of school, completes a post-high school credential, and enters a promising career.
Bright Futures is a community partnership in Monterey County focused on closing equity gaps and expanding economic mobility for youth. One of Bright Futures’ initiatives is CalKIDS, launched by the California State Treasurer’s Office in 2022, helps children begin saving for higher education by providing an initial scholarship for newborns and eligible low-income students. In Monterey County, $39 million has been allocated for over 79,000 children.
As of February 2024, only 7% of eligible students were enrolled, largely due to limited awareness. Since Bright Futures began outreach efforts, enrollment rose to 22%, making Monterey County a statewide leader in CalKIDS accounts claimed, representing over $8 million in future educational investment.
Bright Futures continues to work with schools, partners, and community organizations to raise awareness, boost enrollment, and help families invest in their children’s education, empowering them to overcome barriers and succeed in school, careers, and life.
Bright Futures serves all of Monterey County by identifying gaps and eliminating barriers to education from early childhood through career readiness. Backed by a strong collaborative network of 20 Steering Partners and 7 Core Conveners, representing more than 30 organizations countywide. Bright Futures works closely with nonprofit, philanthropic, business, faith-based, community, and educational partners to address the challenges our region faces in achieving equitable educational outcomes. Since launching CalKIDS outreach in February 2024, Bright Futures has helped raise local enrollment from just 7% of student accounts claimed to 22%, marking a significant step forward in connecting families to this vital resource.
As one of three siblings attending college during the 2025–2026 academic year, I understood that my family’s financial situation would be tight when it came to covering the cost of all three educations. CalKIDS helped address my financial concerns, not only for me, but also for my sisters, who were each able to claim over $500 through CalKIDS. I will be using my claimed savings to purchase books and other school supplies at UCLA, and one of my sisters shared that she will use hers to help cover living expenses at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. My family and I are deeply grateful to CalKIDS for meaningfully alleviating some of our educational financial burdens.
- Dulce Madrigal, Salinas
