Teacher Residency Grant Program

General Information

The California state budget signed by the Governor in July 2021 includes a total of $350 million in funding for competitive grants to support a collaborative partnership between an eligible Local Education Agency (LEA) or a consortium of LEAs partnering with one or more Commission-approved teacher preparation programs offered by a regionally accredited institution of higher education (IHE) to expand, strengthen, improve access to, or create teacher residency programs. The funding may be used to establish new teacher residency programs that support either of the following: (a) designated shortage fields including special education, bilingual education, computer science, science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), transitional kindergarten (TK), or kindergarten and/or (b) local efforts to recruit, develop support systems for, provide outreach and communication strategies to, and retain a diverse teacher workforce that reflects a local education agency community’s diversity.
- Authorizing Legislation
- Overview of Section 45 of AB 130 Education Omnibus Trailer Budget Bill - Teacher Residency Grant Program
  AB 130 Education Omnibus Trailer Budget Bill (Section 45) appropriated $350 million over the next five years to create or expand Teacher Residency Programs.
- Commission Agenda Item 3G - February 2022
  The Educator Preparation Committee presented item 3G at the February 2022 Commission Meeting. This agenda item presents an update on and timelines for the release of Request for Applications (RFAs) for the four 2021-22 state-funded grant programs: 1) Teacher Residency Programs (Capacity, Expansion, and Implementation), 2) Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Grant Program, 3) Computer Science Supplementary Authorization Incentive Grant, and 4) Dyslexia Grants to Teacher Preparation Programs.

Teacher Residency Capacity Grant Program

The Commission is pleased to announce its intent to fund 41 LEAs for the 2021 Teacher Residency Capacity Grant. This funding will support local education agencies (LEAs) and one or more partners with a Commission-approved teacher preparation program offered by a regionally accredited institution of higher education (IHE) to expand, strengthen, improve access to, or create teacher residency programs.
Teacher Residency Capacity Grant Request for Applications (RFA): Twenty-five million dollars is available for Teacher Residency Capacity Grant awards up to a maximum of $250,000 per eligible applicant.

The Commission is not currently accepting Teacher Residency Capacity Grant Applications. The anticipated release of the next Teacher Residency Capacity Grant RFA is August 2022.
Questions and Answers Regarding the Teacher Residency Capacity Grant Request for Applications - December 2021
Questions and Answers Regarding the Teacher Residency Capacity Grant Request of Applications – January 2022

Teacher Residency Expansion Grant Program

The Commission is pleased to announce its intent to fund 18 LEAs for the 2021 Teacher Residency Expansion Grant. This funding will support local education agencies (LEAs) and one or more partners with a Commission-approved teacher preparation program offered by a regionally accredited institution of higher education (IHE) to expand, strengthen, or improve access to residency programs.
Teacher Residency Expansion Grant Request for Applications (RFA)

The Commission is not currently accepting Teacher Residency Expansion Grant Applications. The anticipated release of the next Teacher Residency Expansion RFA is early September 2022.
Questions and Answers Regarding the Teacher Residency Expansion Grant Request for Applications - April 2022.

Teacher Residency Implementation Grant Program

The Teacher Residency Implementation RFA is now available to provide grant awards up to $25,000 per resident for new or expanding residency programs. Applications are due to the Commission by 5:00 PM on Friday, October 14, 2022.

Additional Resources

Resources have been contributed by organizations with experience operating teacher residency programs and/or analyzing their effectiveness and utility. These resources are for information only and have been provided to help guide new or existing teacher residency programs applying for the Teacher Residency Grant Program. Prospective applicants should determine what resources are most appropriate for their local context.

Teacher Residency Grant Program - Additional Resources

WestEd Teacher Residency Project Page
WestEd and the Commission have partnered to evaluate CA Teacher Residency programs. Their Formative Evaluation and Year 1 Finding can be found on this page.

CDE Foundation’s CA Teacher Residency Lab Page
The California Teacher Residency Lab partners with the Commission to provide technical assistance and support to grant funded residency programs. Information on their focus areas, impact, and upcoming events can be found on this page.

Learning Policy Institute (LPI) Fact Sheets
Research-based guidance to support LEAs as they develop plans for the federal COVID-19 recovery (ESSER) funds.

Sustainable Strategies for Funding Teacher Residencies
Learning Policy Institute (LPI) and Bank Street share lessons from California regarding sustaining Teacher Residencies

Commission Agenda Items

Update to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Agenda Item 3F – February 2022
The Educator Preparation Committee presented item 3F at the February 2022 Commission meeting. This agenda item presents an update on the Teacher Residency Grant Programs including findings from of the evaluation conducted by WestEd

Agenda Item 2D – December 2020
The Education Preparation Committee presented Item 2D at the December 3, 2020 Commission meeting. This agenda item presents an update on Year One of the Teacher Residency Grant Programs. WestEd is conducting an evaluation of the Teacher Residency programs and an update on their evaluation to date has been included in this item.

Update on State-Funded Grant Programs

Agenda Item 4E – April 2019
The Educator Preparation Committee presented item 4E at the April 2019 Commission meeting. This agenda item presents an update on two state-funded grants administered by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing: The Local Solutions to the Shortage of Special Education Teachers Grant Program and the Teacher Residency Grant Programs – Capacity, Expansion, and Residency.

Update on State-Funded Grant Programs

Agenda Item 3B – November 2018
The Educator Preparation Committee presented item 3B at the November 2018 Commission meeting. This agenda item presents an update on five state-funded grant programs: The California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program; The Integrated Undergraduate Teacher Preparation Program; The California Center on Teaching Careers; The Teacher Residency Grant Programs (Capacity, Expansion, and Residency); and the Local Solutions to the Shortage of Special Education Teachers Grant Program