Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG) Program

The Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG) Program is administered by the California Student Aid Commission to support individuals pursuing a teaching or pupil personnel services credential in California. This grant is part of the state’s broader initiative to address teacher shortages and improve educational equity in high-need schools and preschools across California. Through financial assistance, the GSTG aims to alleviate the burden of credentialing costs for aspiring educators committed to working in priority schools or California State Preschool Programs (CSPPs). Eligible applicants must be enrolled in a professional preparation program approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). These programs must be based in California, including those run by local education agencies (LEAs), or be exclusively online programs offered to California residents that meet specific statutory criteria—currently only Western Governors University qualifies. Intern teacher credential programs are not eligible, although intern pupil personnel services credential programs remain eligible. Additional eligibility criteria include maintaining satisfactory academic progress, working toward a preliminary credential, submitting a GSTG application, and completing either a FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application. The grant provides awards based on cohort classification, determined by the application date and the applicant’s Student Aid Index (SAI). Currently, only Cohort 3 is open for applications for the 2025–26 academic year. This cohort offers a maximum award of $10,000, or $5,000 for participants in qualifying online institutions. Awards are prioritized weekly, starting with the lowest SAI. Recipients in this cohort must complete two years of service within four years of program completion at an eligible priority school or CSPP. This service must be undertaken after credential attainment; any service prior to program completion does not count. Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 are now closed to new applicants. Those cohorts offered larger awards of up to $20,000 and required four years of service within eight years of program completion. Each cohort has its own Service Agreement that recipients must sign before any funds are disbursed. The Service Agreement outlines obligations and penalties for non-compliance. Applicants must complete their credentialing program and obtain their credential within six years from the initial disbursement of GSTG funds. All recipients must sign a Service Agreement committing them to work in qualifying settings, which ensures that public investment yields long-term benefits to California’s educational system. The grant is not open to individuals already holding or in the process of clearing a teaching credential or those in induction programs. For inquiries, applicants should contact the Golden State Teacher Grant Program via email at goldenstateteachers@csac.ca.gov. Detailed guidance, including program eligibility, award amounts, and service requirements, is available from the California Student Aid Commission.

Applicants should ensure they are not in an intern teacher credential program, as these are ineligible. Confirm that the program is listed on the CTC-approved provider map.