Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program

General Information

The California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program (Classified Program) addresses the state’s teacher shortage in STEM, special education, bilingual education, and transitional kindergarten, by supporting local education agencies (LEAs) to recruit classified school employees into teaching careers and support their undergraduate education, professional teacher preparation, and certification as credentialed California teachers. In July 2021, the state appropriated $125 million to expand the California Classified School Employees Teacher Credentialing Program for another five years. Classified staff at grantee LEAs who were selected to participate in the program (participants) receive financial assistance for degree and credentialing-related expenses such as tuition, fees, books, and examination costs; academic guidance; and other forms of individualized support to help them complete their undergraduate education, teacher preparation program, and transition to becoming credentialed teachers.

• Contact Email: ClassifiedGrants@ctc.ca.gov
• Authorizing Legislation:
  • AB 130 Section 129
  • ⁠California Code, EDC 44392
  • California Code, EDC 44393

Classified Grant Program

• Request for Application (RFA): California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program – Round Nine
  Grant awards of up to $4,800 per participant per year may be made to funded applicants. Eligible applicants are Local Education Agencies (LEAs)—school districts, county offices of education, or charter schools interested in securing grant funding to recruit and support classified staff who already hold an associate or higher degree to complete a bachelor’s degree and earn a California teaching credential. The Commission is currently accepting applications for the Classified Grant Program.
  • Appendix B – Intent To Apply (Optional)
  • Appendix C – Application Cover Page
  • Appendix D – IHE Partner Summary
  • Appendix E – LEA-IHE Partnership Agreement
  • Appendix F – Budget Overview Form
  • Appendix G – Statutory Priority Points
  • Appendix H – Grant Stewardship and Accreditation Status
• Questions and Answers for 2021 Classified Grant Program Request for Application
• Announcement of the 2021 Classified Grant Program Awards 

Classified Grant Program – Existing Grantees

Existing grantees may need to add new IHE partners as their candidates enroll in California not for profit institutions that offer Commission approved teacher preparation programs.

• Adding a New IHE Partner Form

Annual Data Submission Information

As part of the mandatory data collection and reporting requirement for the California Classified School Employee Teacher Credential Program grant, LEA grantee must provide all requested data to the Commission’s for evaluation and reporting. Please carefully read the information below on how to access and complete the data spreadsheet, and additional resources. Data submission is due on Friday, July 16, 2027 by 5:00PM.

Directions

The individually shared spreadsheet is managed by the Commission and the data will be updated annually by the LEA grantee lead during the life of the grant. Do not create and share a new spreadsheet with the Commission- it will not be reviewed.

Annual Data Submission: Data for the 2026-27 year is due on July 16, 2027 by 5:00PM. Grantees will no longer need to email the Classified Grants team to verify that the data reporting requirement has been met. Instead, there is a question on the Summary Narrative tab that collects this information.

Office Hours

Support sessions will be offered one Wednesday per month, 11:00AM to 12:00PM. Office hours are drop-in, free flow, and no RSVP is required.

One Wednesday per month, 11:00AM to 12:00PM

• September 16, 2026
• October 21, 2026
• November 18, 2026
• December 16, 2026
• January 20, 2027
• February 17, 2027
• March 17, 2027
• April 21, 2027
• May 19, 2027
• June 16, 2027

Grantees have been emailed the zoom link

Resources for Funded Classified Grant Program Grantees

• SharePoint Spreadsheet Access
• Classified Grant Annual Data Guide
• Annual Data Spreadsheet Instructional Video
• Demographic Survey Template (Google account is needed)
• Office Hours Questions and Answers
• Classified Grant Technical Assistance: Fall 2023, Fall 2024

Commission Agenda Item

Agenda Item 1C – December 2025 (Page 44)

Agenda Item 1C – December 2024