Funding Teacher Preparation Programs
Elevate the quality, sustainability, and accessibility of your teacher preparation program by making the most of available resources. This toolset identifies opportunities to access and combine multiple funding streams to provide robust, durable support for programs and the teacher candidates who participate in them. It was informed by institutions of higher education and local education agencies, and developed by the interagency State Collaborative for California’s Educator Workforce in conjunction with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), with research and support from WestEd.

Teacher Preparation Program Funding Explorer is a comprehensive and searchable database of federal and state dollars and grant opportunities that can be applied toward a teacher preparation program. It also contains funding resources available to prospective teacher candidates. These funds may be blended and braided to provide robust, durable support as you develop and sustain your teacher preparation program—view the scenarios below for examples.

Teacher Residency Program Funding Scenarios share examples of real teacher residency programs in California that have robust financial packages for teacher residents. The examples illustrate strategies for maximizing program affordability for teacher residents and funding program operations. Program planners may use these scenarios in a variety of ways, including:
- Assess how well a residency program’s financial package may address residents’ program and living expenses
- Learn how program design and offerings can impact the financial aid residents can leverage
- Identify ways to optimize program affordability
- Consider the kinds of staff support needed to operate a residency and potential funding approaches for long-term program sustainability
Download your choice of scenarios outlined below.
Traits | Mountain Vista | Metro City | Spring Valley | Ocean Shores | Greenville | Harbor Hill |
IHE Partner | California State University | University of California | California State University | Private | California State University | Private |
LEA Partner | County Office of Education | Unified School District | City School District | Unified School District | Unified School District | Elementary School District |
Program Start | 2019 | 2018 | 2016 | 2019 | 2013 | 2023 |
Region | Northern | Northern | Central | Central | Central | Southern |
Locale | Town in largely rural area | City in largely urban area | Urban hub of a rural area | Coastal town in a rural area | Urban hub of a rural area | Urban hub of rural area |
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Specialization |
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Funding Sustainability | Primarily funded by recurring funding sources | Funded by both recurring and one-time funding sources | Primarily funded by recurring funding sources | Primarily funded by one-time funding sources | Funded by both recurring and one-time funding sources | Funded by both recurring and one-time funding sources |

Roadmap to Teaching in California is a web tool designed to support meaningful conversations with education career candidates, from classroom teachers to principals to counselors and more. It’s a great way to support informed decisions and put educator candidates in touch with financial resources that can minimize their expenses and expand their opportunities on the path to a credential. Plus, trained career counselors are standing by to help!