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

Classified Grant Program

Request for Application (RFA): California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program - Round Seven
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 not currently accepting applications for the Classified Grant Program.