The Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG) Program awards up to $20,000 to students currently enrolled in a professional preparation program approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and working towards earning their preliminary teaching or pupil personnel services credential.
Students must commit to work at a priority school in California for 4 years within 8 years of completing their program. CSAC will continue to process applications through April 1, 2025, or until all funds have been awarded, whichever occurs first.
Please note: Legislation updates may affect program eligibility, award sizes, and service obligation length for new GSTG recipients who submit their applications on or after July 1, 2024. For updates, please visit the GSTG Overview for Students webpage.
Eligibility
Prior to the 2024-25 academic year, to be eligible for the GSTG, a student must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be currently enrolled in a professional preparation program approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) that either:
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP).
- Be working toward a preliminary teaching or pupil personnel services credential.
- Applicants pursuing a teaching credential who are already in the process of clearing a teaching credential, already hold a clear teaching credential, or are in an induction program are not eligible for the GSTG.
- Complete their program and obtain their credential within 6 years from the date their initial GSTG payment is mailed to their institution.
- Commit to work at an eligible priority school or a CSPP for 4 years within 8 years of completing their program.
How to Apply
- Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid) or CA Dream Act Application (CA Dream Act Application).
- Submit the Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG) Application.
- After the institution verifies the student’s eligibility, the student will be asked to sign their Service Agreement (SA). The SA outlines the program requirements, service commitment, and repayment obligation of the grant.
The 2024-25 GSTG application will be open from September 1, 2023 through April 1, 2025, or until all funds have been awarded, whichever occurs first. The 2025-26 GSTG application will open on September 1, 2024, for intake only. Eligibility and awarding for new 2025-26 applicants will be dependent on the 2025-26 State Budget and supporting legislation.
Service Obligation
There is a service requirement tied to receiving GSTG funds. The commitment is documented in the Service Agreement (SA) and no funds are awarded until the SA is accepted by the participant.
Prior to the 2024-25 academic year, all GSTG recipients commit to work at an eligible priority school or California State Preschool Program (CSPP) for 4 years within 8 years of the date they complete their professional preparation program. Any time working prior to completing their program and obtaining their credential is not counted towards the 4-year service requirement.
A CSPP is a state-funded or federally funded preschool program in California, including tribal and Head Start programs. A new CSPP list is published every school year that includes all eligible, active programs.
Priority schools are CA public schools that provide instruction in any grade K-12 with more than 55% of pupils classified as English Learners, eligible for free or reduced-price meals, or current foster youth. Priority schools are not the same as schools funded by Title I. The priority school list is compiled by April 15 annually using data submitted via CALPADS to the California Department of Education (CDE) by each public California school. Nonpublic schools are not eligible as priority schools as they do not report data to CDE.
*Failure to comply with the terms and conditions in the Service Agreement will require repayment of the GSTG award.
Priority School
When determining an eligible school for employment, GSTG recipients may refer to either the list published for the school year they received initial GSTG funds or the school year they are seeking new employment for after completing their program. A list of priority schools can be found on the GSTG Overview for Students webpage.
Repayment
GSTG recipients have 6 years to complete their program and be issued their preliminary teaching or pupil personnel services credential by the CTC from the date the Commission mails their initial GSTG payment to their institution. Failure to meet this requirement will result in immediate placement on a 4-year Repayment Schedule for 100% of the grant funds disbursed.
The timeframe to complete their service obligation begins on the date they complete their program. At the end of the timeframe, they will be required to repay 25% to 50% of their total awarded amount for each year their service obligation is not met. For those their obligation is met, no repayment will be necessary. The repayment is for funds awarded only, no interest.
For example, if the recipient has a 4-year service obligation and completes:
- 1 year = Repay 75% of the awarded amount
- 2 years = Repay 50% of the awarded amount
- 3 years = Repay 25% of the awarded amount
- 4 years = No Repayment, obligation complete
If the recipient has a 2-year service obligation and completes:
- 1 year = Repay 50% of the awarded amount
- 2 years = No Repayment, obligation complete
The service does not need to be completed consecutively as recipients have the full 4- or 8-year timeframe (as designated by their Service Agreement) from their program completion date to complete the obligation. Furthermore, recipients may change schools during their service obligation period as long as they are working at eligible priority schools or CSPPs.
Next Steps
Once a student has submitted a GSTG application, they will receive a confirmation email. The student’s institution will verify their eligibility and determine their award amount.
After the institution verifies the student’s eligibility, the student will be asked to sign their Service Agreement (SA). The SA outlines the program requirements, service commitment, and repayment obligation of the grant.
After the SA has been signed, the student’s institution will be able to request payment(s). The grant will be evenly disbursed among all terms the student is enrolled in during the academic year.
It takes approximately 6-8 weeks from the date the payment request is submitted for the check to arrive at the institution.
For more information contact the Golden State Teacher Grant Program at:
goldenstateteachers@csac.ca.gov
https://www.csac.ca.gov/golden-state-teacher-grant-program
phone: 1.888.224.7268
Federal TEACH Grant Apply Now
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program is a federal financial aid grant program available to students enrolled in eligible programs. The TEACH Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 a year to students who intend to teach full-time in a high-need field at a public or private elementary or secondary school that the U.S. Department of Education has designated as having a high concentration of students from low-income families.Agreement to Serve (ATS)
TEACH Grant recipient must sign an Agreement to Serve (ATS) annually that explains that the recipient must teach for four years within eight years of completing (or ceasing) enrollment in a TEACH Grant-eligible program. The grant will convert to an unsubsidized loan if contracted teaching obligations are not met, and interest accrual will be effective as of the date of the first TEACH Grant disbursement.TEACH Grant High-Needs Fields
High-need fields are the specific areas identified below:- Mathematics
- Science
- Foreign Language
- Bilingual Education
- English language acquisition
- Special Education
- Reading Specialist
School Serving Low-Income Students
School serving low income students include any elementary or secondary school that is listed in the Department of Education Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits.
Application Process
- Complete the current year FAFSA
- Complete the TEACH Grant Counseling Session.
- Complete the Agreement to Serve or Repay (ATS)
- The Counseling Session and ATS must be completed 'EACH' year to be considered for the grant.
General Qualifications
- Be a U.S. Citizen or an eligible non-citizen
- Be enrolled in a TEACH eligible program
- maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25
- Be eligible for federal student aid programs
- Meet standard eligibility criteria for all Federal Title IV financial aid, such as not being in default on a student loan and maintaining satisfactory academic progress
Award Information
| Program of Study | Statutory Annual Maximums | Aggregate Limit per program |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible Undergraduate Program | $4,000 | $16,000 |
| Eligible Teaching Credential Program | $4,000 | $16,000 |
| Eligible Master's Degree Program | $4,000 | $8,000 |
Undergraduate students: Must have formally declared a minor in the School of Education in Elementary, Secondary, Bilingual or Special Education. Students are allowed to declare a minor after achieving junior standing, therefore, LMU does not award the TEACH Grant to first-year or sophomore level students. Students interested in a career in teaching should visit the School of Education, Center for Undergraduate Teaching Preparation.
Graduate students: Your educational program must be designed to prepare you to teach as a highly qualified teacher in a high-need field and lead to a master’s degree.
Please Note: If you do not complete your service obligation, all TEACH Grant funds you received will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education, with interest charged from the date the TEACH Grant was disbursed (paid to you or on your behalf).
Cost of Attendance (COA)
You can see the Cost of Attendance for your program of study in the Cost of Attendance section of our website.