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.  
    • Teacher Residency Data Dashboard
      WestEd serves as the external evaluator for Teacher Residency Grant Program.This dashboard is a tool to understand the preparation and retention of diverse teachers in shortage fields funded through the Teacher Residency Grant program, by showing patterns of enrollment, program completion, and hiring.  
    • 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 

Teacher Residency Expansion Grant Program

    • The Teacher Residency Implementation and Expansion RFA is now available to provide grant awards up to $25,000 per resident for new or expanding residency programs. Commission staff have combined the implementation and expansion grant competitions into one RFA and provided two application windows to eligible LEAs. Applications are due to the Commission by 5:00 PM PT on March 31, 2023, or May 19, 2023. Please note, the March 31, 2023, due date is a quick turnaround for those programs that are ready now to enroll residents and would like a confirmed award announcement by April 2023. The May 19, 2023, due date option is also available for programs that would like to enroll residents for fall 2023, however, this award announcement will not be made until June 2023.

    • The Commission is pleased to announce its intent to fund 14 LEAs for the 2021 Teacher Residency Expansion Grant, Round 2. 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.

    • The Commission is pleased to announce its intent to fund  18 LEAs for the 2021 Teacher Residency Expansion Grant, Round 1. 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 Implementation Grant Program 

    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

    Statewide Educator Identifier (SEID) Lookup Directions

    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