Student Teacher Stipend Program

General Information

The California state budget signed by the Governor in July 2025 includes $300 million to establish the Student Teacher Stipend Program. Commencing July 1, 2026, local education agencies may apply for Student Teacher Stipend Program grant funding to provide stipends of $10,000 to be paid to credential candidates during the school year in which they are completing their student teaching. One hundred ($100) million will be available in fiscal year 2026-27, and to the extent that funds are available, $100 million shall be made available annually for this grant program.

Contact email: STSP@ctc.ca.gov
Authorizing Legislation

• AB 121
• California Code EDC 44400, 44400.01, 44400.02, 44400.03

Student Teacher Stipend Program (STSP)

The Student Teacher Stipend Program is a non-competitive grant program. Unlike other grant programs administered by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, authorizing legislation states that grant funds will be disbursed on a first come, first served basis. As a result, there will be no Request for Applications (RFA) process. Instead, authorizing legislation included funding for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools to collaborate with the Commission to develop a grants management system to streamline the application process. There will be space within the online application process for both educator preparation programs and local education agencies to communicate to the Commission the number of student teachers completing their clinical practice within the LEA during the academic year, and to provide required information about each student teacher outlined in authorizing legislation.

Coming July 1, 2026: Link to the STSP

Questions and Answers

The page has been created to provide information about the Student Teacher Stipend Program and to provide answers to questions asked of the Commission.

Additional Resources

Student Teacher Stipend Program Webinar #2
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 10:00 am
Content: This webinar will focus on the online application system. The recording of this webinar will be posted.
Use the Zoom form to register

Student Teacher Stipend Program (STSP) Regional Learning Sessions
Following the April 29 webinar, the Commission, in partnership with Linean—the contractor building the Student Teacher Stipend Program online application and the Commission’s grants management system—will host regional learning sessions. The regional learning sessions are designed to be smaller and more interactive learning opportunities for individuals from IHEs/LEAs interested in learning about the STSP online application system and processes.

The STSP Regional Learning Sessions will be from 1:00 to 3:00 pm on the following Fridays:

• Central California: May 8, 2026. Use the Zoom form to register for this learning lesson
• Sacramento Area: May 15, 2026. Use the Zoom form to register for this learning lesson
• Southern California: May 29. Use the Zoom form to register for this learning lesson
• Northern California: June 5. Use the Zoom form to register for this learning lesson
• San Francisco Bay Area: June 12. Use the Zoom form to register for this learning lesson

The Commission has selected IHE/LEA Launch Champions from the regions listed above who will help translate the theory with practice of the online application. Individuals from IHEs/LEAs are encouraged to attend a learning session in their area to meet the Launch Champions and other colleagues from their area. If needed, individuals from IHEs/LEAs may attend a session outside of their region.

Student Teacher Stipend Program Webinar #1
Thursday, April 9, from 10:00 to 11:00 am
Webinar PowerPoint
April 9, 2026 Webinar Recording

Potential Financial Resources for Student Teachers

Resources to share with candidates and program colleagues.

• Golden State Teacher Grant
• The Commission website Roadmap to Teaching
  • On the right side of the page, there is a link to Financial Resources for Teacher Candidates.
  • Teacher Candidate Funding Explorer, which lists many types of grants that might meet the needs of aspiring educators.
  • Funding Your Future in Teaching, a financial resource for aspiring educators

Resources continue to be developed for this grant program. Please check back here as the launch date is near.

Commission Agenda Items

This space is for links to future Commission on Teacher Credentialing agenda items regarding the Student Teacher Stipend Program.