Vice Mayor Jason Lee and Stockton Unified Unite with the State Treasurer’s Office to Open Self-Directed Funds and College Savings Pathways for Up to 400 Foster Youth
STOCKTON, CA — Stockton Unified School District and Vice Mayor Jason Lee, in partnership with the California State Treasurer’s Office, launched the pilot California HOPE for Children Trust Account Program on Monday, providing new financial opportunities for the state’s most vulnerable students.
Approximately 130 SUSD foster youth from the 6th grade through 12th grade attended the event at the district’s Admissions Office, where they registered for CalKIDS Scholarship Accounts and, with on-site assistance from program staff, submitted applications for HOPE Trust Accounts. To be eligible for the pilot, participants must be foster youth in grades 6–12 who have been in care for 18 months or more, have had family reunification services terminated, or have lost a parent or guardian to COVID-19. The pilot will deliver $3,000 in unrestricted funds to those who meet these criteria.
“California is committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of their circumstances, has a path to economic opportunity and a foundation for their future,” said State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, who chairs the HOPE Trust Account Board. The program is being launched under her office.
Stockton was chosen for the pilot following outreach and collaboration led by Vice Mayor Jason Lee. Through his efforts, SUSD leadership was connected with the State Treasurer’s Office, ultimately leading to the program’s adoption for the city’s foster youth.
“Stockton has always been a city that fights for its most vulnerable residents, and for me, this fight is personal. I was a foster kid,” Lee said. “I know firsthand what it means to navigate a system that wasn’t designed with your future in mind, and I know how much a resource like this could have changed my trajectory. That’s why I fought to bring the HOPE Trust Account Program to Stockton first… This is what government looks like when it actually works — real partnership, real resources, and real change for the people who need it most.”
Students arrived via SUSD vans, registered for CalKIDS Scholarship Accounts with support, then completed HOPE Trust Account applications. Lunch was provided, and Stockton TV outlets covered organizers’ remarks.
“Foster youth face barriers that most students never encounter, and access to college savings shouldn’t be one of them,” said Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent of Stockton Unified School District. “We took a real step toward changing that. Seeing our students sit down, register, and take ownership of their financial futures was powerful, and we’re proud that Stockton Unified is leading the way for the rest of the state.”
At the luncheon, Cassandra DiBenedetto, HOPE’s acting executive director, joined students, families, SUSD leaders, and Vice Mayor Lee to offer brief remarks.
“Foster youth and youth bereaved by the COVID pandemic are among our most resilient students, and the HOPE Trust Account Program was built with them in mind,” DiBenedetto said. “Stockton Unified and Vice Mayor Lee have shown what’s possible when local leadership and state government work in partnership, and we look forward to taking this model statewide.”
The HOPE Trust Account pilot delivers immediate, unrestricted funds and supports long-term savings for eligible children, prioritizing direct, equitable access through onsite help, transportation, food, and family engagement. Organizers see this as a scalable model for the state.
For more information about the HOPE Trust Account Program, visit https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/hope
