Questions and Answers for Student Teacher Stipend Program Webinar, April 9, 2026

Process For Applying

Question	Answer
Who fills out the application? The student teachers or the TPP or both?	Both the IHE and LEA have a role in the application process on behalf of the student teacher. The student teacher does not apply directly for the stipend.
How do we apply?	Student teachers do not directly apply for the Student Teacher Stipend Program; only LEAs are eligible to apply for funding on behalf of qualified participants. See posted PowerPoint for the April 9, 2026 webinar for more information.
Do LEA's have to apply every semester, once per year, or other frequency?	IHEs and LEAs apply once a year for each student teacher and will have an opportunity to add student teachers once each month. For example, 10 student teachers may begin a program in August, and then one other might be added in September. The IHE and LEA would apply for the 10 student teachers in August and for the one student teacher in September.
Hello! Do IHEs need to identify the LEA where the student teaching is taking place and collaborate with them?	Yes, IHEs must identify the LEA where each student teacher will be placed for clinical practice during the application process. IHEs and their partner LEAs are required to have in place an approved Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Partnership Agreement, or other agreement that clearly delineates the requirements of each candidate placement in alignment with the requirements of the Commission program standards for that program including expectations and criteria for veteran practitioners selection, training, and evaluation, and support and assessment roles and responsibilities for the program and the district. It is expected that there are formal partnerships between LEAs and IHEs, especially as it relates to clinical practice placements.
When the student teacher applies on July 1, do they need to have their placement already confirmed? Will the application ask where they are placed?	Student teachers do not apply. The IHE and the LEA apply on behalf of the student teacher. And yes, the IHE must identify the LEA where each student teacher will be placed for clinical practice during the application process.
When are IHEs submitting their lists of student teachers? Before or after the student teachers apply? I’m unclear on the timelines.	IHEs begin the application process when student teachers begin the clinical practice coursework AND begin the clinical practice placement at the LEA.
Do the placements need to be fully confirmed with the LEA prior to application?	Yes. Student teachers will not be eligible until they begin their student teaching at the LEA.
So the program submits the name and not the LEA?	Yes. The application begins with the IHE inputting the names of the student teachers.
What is the date for Fall 2026 that IHE can input their student teachers into the system? July 1?	After July 1, when the student teacher has begun their clinical practice coursework and when they have begun that clinical practice at the partner LEA.
Once the IHE submits the list of student teachers, will the IHE be notified if the LEA is not participating?	No. As IHEs partner with LEAs to place student teachers, IHEs will need to ask LEAs if they intend to participate in the Student Teacher Stipend Program.
I’m not sure if this was already answered, but what does it mean to say that the candidate has begun student teaching? Does that mean that the LEA must wait until after the candidate reports on the first day of school?	Yes.
Do we enter this in the portal only after placements are confirmed and started?	Yes. Enter the portal to begin the application process after the student teacher has begun clinical practice coursework at the IHE and begun the clinical practice at the LEA.
Do student teachers have to fill out an application? When and where? thank you	No. The IHE and LEA complete the application process on behalf of the student teacher.
Can the LEA approve student teachers as soon as placements are decided, or do they have to wait until the first day the student teacher arrives to their placement site?	IHEs and LEAs do not apply until they can confirm that the student teacher has begun their clinical practice coursework, has begun their clinical practice at the partner LEA, and has demonstrated professional fitness with a document administered by the Commission.
How will we know which LEAs are opting out of the program? And do LEAs and IHEs need to register in advance to be listed on the portal? In other words, are we automatically on the portal, or do we need to do something to register before July 1st?	There is nothing to do before July 1, 2026. After that date, IHEs will be able to access the online application portal to be positioned to apply for student teachers once they have begun their clinical practice coursework and begun their clinical practice at the partner LEA. IHEs should communicate with their LEA partners to determine if the LEA will participate in the grant program.
When does the application go live?	July 1, 2026, but IHEs and LEAs do not apply until they can confirm that the student teacher has begun their clinical practice coursework, has begun their clinical practice at the partner LEA, and has demonstrated professional fitness with a document administered by the Commission.
To clarify, while the application system opens on July 1, do IHEs need to wait until a candidate has physically started their school placement to submit the application? Or can we submit in July once the placement is confirmed, prior to the candidate’s August start date?	Begin the application process after the student teacher has begun clinical practice coursework at the IHE and begun the clinical practice at the LEA. For some IHEs, that might be in July.

Eligibility of Student Teachers

Question	Answer
Can you clarify that under the STSP is it single subject, multiple subject and Ed Specialist? I didn't hear single subject candidates.	Single subject credential seekers are eligible
I didn't hear single subject credential seekers as eligible. Did I miss that, or are they not eligible?	Single subject credential seekers are eligible.
Are residents who are NOT funded through a CA state grant able to access these funds?	Yes, residents who are not funded through a grant program pursuant to CA ed code 44415.5 are eligible.
I am confused about whether residents qualify?	If the resident is locally funded, they qualify. If the resident is participating in a teacher residency grant program pursuant to Ed Code 44415.5, they do not qualify.
Are they eligible if they are in the Classified Grant?	Yes, classified grant program participants are eligible.
Are out of state programs that place student teachers in California eligible for the stipend?	If the out of state program has an approved Commission on Teacher Credentialing educator preparation program and the candidate is placed in a California school, then the student teacher is eligible for the stipend.
Are teacher candidates teaching full-time on STSP or PIP permits eligible?	on PIPs and STSPsthe Student Teacher Stipend Program
The majority of our candidates complete a fall/spring/fall credential program, with part-time student teaching in the first two semesters and full-time student teaching in the final semester. Would they be eligible for this funding in the first or the second academic year of their program?	Student teachers are eligible for the student teacher stipend at the start of clinical practice, as defined by the IHE, and when the clinical practice begins at the LEA partner.
We have some student teachers that we allow to remain in their own classroom to complete as a student teacher under contract. Are they eligible for the STSP?	Authorizing legislation states that student teachers teaching on an Intern credential are not eligible for the student teacher stipend.
If teacher candidates are not placed until a week later (districts could not find a placement sooner), are they still eligible for STSP?	Yes. Student teachers are eligible for the stipend throughout the academic year until grant funds are completely distributed.
What if a student is beginning their second placement in fall 2026? Are they eligible?	Yes.
Are there any restrictions for international students on F1 Visas?	Authorizing legislation is silent on international students and as such there are no restrictions.
If a PK-3 candidate has already completed 400 hrs in a PK/TK setting and only needs 200 hrs to complete for their K-3 classroom requirement, are they eligible for the stipend	No. Student teachers are eligible for the student teacher stipend when they are enrolled in a program where they are able to complete 500 of the required 600 hours.
What happens if student teaching does not add up to 500 hours? For PK-3 credential students, student teaching is only 10 weeks for K–3 and 6 weeks for preschool	Student teachers are eligible for the student teacher stipend when they are enrolled in a program where they are able to complete 500 of the required 600 hours. All PK-3 credential programs require 600 hours unless the candidate is choosing the waiver. If a candidate chooses the waiver, they are not eligible for the student teacher stipend.
Are Apprentices able to qualify if they are only in their placement for 300 hours?	Student teachers are eligible for the student teacher stipend when they are enrolled in a program where they are able to complete 500 of the required 600 hours. Assuming apprentices will complete the required hours, they are eligible for the stipend until they are teacher of record.
If a student teacher is receiving funds from a locally funded LEA program, are they still eligible for this grant?	Yes.
Are student teachers in a year-long residency program who are not receiving CTC residency grant-funded stipends eligible, even if their IHE receives a CTC residency grant for other program participants? Can an LEA that hosts residents funded through a CTC residency grant also support additional residents from the same IHE using STSP funds?	Yes. A student teacher who is in a residency program not supported by a state-funded Teacher Residency Program via Education Code 44415.5 is eligible for Student Teacher Stipend Program.
Is it possible for some of the teacher residents to be funded to residency grant funds and some to be funded by the student teacher stipend?	Yes. Any student teacher who is in a residency program not supported by a state-funded Teacher Residency Program via Education Code 44415.5 is eligible for Student Teacher Stipend Program.
Apologies if asked already - resident teachers can or cannot receive the STSP also?	A student teacher who is in a residency program not supported by a state-funded Teacher Residency Program via Education Code 44415.5 is eligible for Student Teacher Stipend Program.
If a candidate participates in CTC TRIE grant funded program for a general education credential, and then enrolls to continue on to earn an Education Specialist credential, could they be eligible for the STSP during the second credentialing program? Assuming they had received all eligible CTC TRIE funds during the first credentialing residency year and were not eligible for any additional funds during the second credentialing residency time?	Yes. Student teachers in a second credential program would be eligible if the second credential program has a requirement of 600 hours of clinical practice where the student teacher has the opportunity to complete at least 500 of the required 600 hours.
I heard that if a student already holds a teaching credential, and they are doing another credential, are not eligible for the STSP. Is that correct?	No. In fact, student teachers in a second credential program would be eligible if the second credential program has a requirement of 600 hours of clinical practice where the student teacher has the opportunity to complete at least 500 of the required 600 hours.
I heard if a student already holds a teaching credential, and they are doing another credential are not eligible for the STSP, is that correct?	Student teachers in a second credential program would be eligible if the second credential program has a requirement of 600 hours of clinical practice where the student teacher has the opportunity to complete at least 500 of the required 600 hours.
Good morning, We are a bit concerned about those who apply for, and are placed as a student teacher, only to decide that an Internship offer is better, and take the job. Is there any guidance for the decision being final, especially as districts are posting for interns constantly?	Authorizing legislation does not exclude individuals who start as student teachers and then change to interns from being awarded a stipend. Because it may take up to 55 business days before the LEA receives the grant funds to pay the stipend to the student teacher, if a student teacher has exited the program, or has become a teacher of record via an intern program before the grant funds were disbursed to the LEA, the student teacher should not be paid the student teacher stipend.

Documents Demonstrating Professional Fitness Review by the Commission

Question	Answer
Regarding student teachers having evidence of a valid certificate or permit do you mean they need to have a Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit?	Student teachers must have a document that provides evidence of their valid certificate or permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing that required professional fitness review. Any document issued by the Commission satisfies this requirement.
Will a child development permit count as evidence- it is a CTC issued document	Yes.
What is the qualifying document number?	A document number appears on a valid certificate or permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing that demonstrates required professional fitness review
how does the student teacher gets the document number ?	The student teacher is sent their qualifying document upon which is a document number.
I apologize if I missed this - how do student teachers get their qualifying document number?	When a individual receives notice of an approved document with the Commission, they receive an email with directions to view their document on the Commission's website. The official record all documents issued is viewable through the online portal (https://www.ctc.ca.gov/commission/lookup/).
Certificate of Clearance and Sub Permits have document numbers	Yes.
So the qualifying document number is the number associated with their cert of clearance or similar documentation?	Yes.
Will the stipend be prorated for student teachers who do not receive professional fitness clearance in August/September?	No. Once the student teacher is awarded the document that exemplifies the professional fitness review, the IHE and LEA may apply for the $10,000 on the student teacher's behalf. There is no prorating the stipends.

Online Application Process

Question	Answer
And, who did she say "starts the process?" The IHE?	Yes - the IHE starts the process, as they know who the student teachers are and when they begin their clinical practice
Are the IHE's the ones who start the application process or the LEA?	The IHE start the process, as they know who the student teachers are and when they begin their clinical practice
How will we know which LEAs are opting out of the program? And do LEAs and IHEs need to register in advance to be listed on the portal? In other words, are we automatically on the portal, or do we need to do something to register before July 1st?	There is nothing to do before July 1, 2026. After that date, IHEs will be able to access the online application portal to be positioned to apply for student teachers once they have begun their clinical practice coursework and begun their clinical practice at the partner LEA. IHEs should communicate with their LEA partners to determine if the LEA will participate in the grant program.
Can you please provide the spreadsheet for bulk upload ahead of July 1st?	The information needed for the bulk upload spreadsheets will be available before July 1, 2026.
Does the IHE need to set up an account to be in the portal for the applications or are all IHEs in CA already pre-loaded in the system?	IHEs and LEAs will each need to create an account in the portal.
A spreadsheet template posted to the website would be very helpful and expediate the process for IHEs.	The information needed for the bulk upload spreadsheets will be available before July 1, 2026.
Are we able to see a preview of the spreadsheet format for bulk upload so we can prep everything in advance?	Yes.
Is there a spreadsheet template for the bulk upload that can be accessed prior to July 1?	The information needed for the bulk upload spreadsheets will be available before July 1, 2026.
Will IHE be provided a log in to the portal? How do we get access and when will this open to enter for August term?	The online application and all portals open on July 1, 2026. After that IHEs may begin the application process in advance of the date student teachers begin their clinical practice coursework. Once student teachers begin their clinical practice coursework, IHEs may submit the application.
Can a campus have more than one “inputer,” since we have multiple programs with student teachers?	Yes
Can you please show what the bulk upload looks like?	Yes. The bulk upload feature will be shared at the April 29 webinar, and it will be posted on the Commission website following the webinar.
Who at the IHE and LEA will have access to enter the candidate’s information?	This is a local decision.
We need to specify which school each student teacher is attending? So if we have 20 student teachers who spread across the district - then we need to state where they are? Versus - the district overall?	Yes.
Will an IHE with multiple programs have to have 1 point of contact - or can their be a separate point of contact for each program? (e.g., multiple subject, single subject, undergrad)	There can be more than one person accessing the online application.
In the bulk upload spreadsheet, is there a standard way that the county, district, and school must be named?	The bulk upload spreadsheets will have names prepopulated for easy access and conventional naming.
Are you asking for the HR contact name and email for the LEA where the student teaching is taking place?	This is a local decision. The application asks for IHEs to include the contact name(s) of individuals to whom a notice that there are student teachers ready for review via the LEA portal in the online application system.
Will we be alerted if there is an error in submission on the IHE part?	If an IHE has an error in the initial submission, they will be alerted and the student teacher will not move forward in the process until the error is remedied.
Who will get the initial email? How do we identify a person to review the email	This is a local decision. The application asks for IHEs to include the contact name(s) of individuals to whom a notice that there are student teachers ready for review via the LEA portal in the online application system.
For first come, first served funding, what timestamp determines priority - the university’s initial application submission or the LEA’s final confirmation/approval?	The order in which applications for student teachers are received is when the Commission receives the application after the LEA confirms that the student teacher has started the clinical practice in the LEA.
Will the bulk submission spreadsheet have a common format? Will there be a template or prescribed templet to use?	Yes.
Will IHEs or Teacher candidate be informed if not issued a STSP?	IHEs will be able to see if the student teacher has been paid in the online application portal.
Can a County Office of Ed serve as the LEA for all the districts in their County? This would help address equity issues if some districts don't want to participate.	LEAs can partner with COE's to be the fiscal agent for the stipend program; however, the LEA will be responsible for confirming that the student teacher has begun the clinical practice at the LEA. In the online application, this is a click of a button. When the COE is identified as the fiscal agent, the grant award agreement and disbursement of grant funds will go to the partner COE.
Can a county office serve as an authorizing/approving LEA for their districts? We have districts who are opting out and want to promote equitably pathways for our regional universities.	LEAs can partner with COE's to be the fiscal agent for the stipend program; however, the LEA will be responsible for confirming that the student teacher has begun the clinical practice at the LEA. In the online application, this is a click of a button. When the COE is identified as the fiscal agent, the grant award agreement and disbursement of grant funds will go to the partner COE.

Disbursement of Grant Funds to LEAs and Stipend Payment to Student Teachers

Question	Answer
Can we pay the mentor teacher from the stipend or is that an LEA responsibility?	No, the full $10,000 must go to the student teacher.
Are we able to use funds from the STSP to pay mentor teachers?	No, the full $10,000 must go to the student teacher.
Does stipend go through a payroll meaning taxes are taken out?	This is a local decision. The LEA may choose how to hire and pay student teachers.
What is an STD 204	The STD 204 is the California Payee Data Record form used to collect payee information for tax reporting and payment processing by state agencies.
Can a County Office of Education serve as the LEA for purposes of the student teacher stipend program, particularly in partnership with an IHE, or is each individual district required to register separately as the LEA?	Yes, the COE can do this, the LEA will need to confirm that the student teacher is placed at a school in their LEA.
When does LEA get payment?	See slide 18 of the posted PowerPoint for the April 9, 2026 webinar.
If students are placed in 2 different LEA’s, will the funds go to one LEA for distribution or will they be divided between both LEA’s for distribution?	Student teachers will receive the entire stipend as a result of their first clinical placement.
Many university programs require STs to complete their training at 2 different school districts…i.e. One semester = School A and Second semester = School B. Are STs only receiving funding in one semester?	Student teachers will receive the full $10,000 stipend as a result of their first clinical placement.
LEA question: will CTC route funds electronically each month and tag the funds per student teacher or will it be a lump sum? Could an LEA opt to receive physical checks to distribute?	The State Controller’s Office will distribute checks to LEAs in one lump sum which will cover the $10,000 per student teacher per application submission to LEAs. For example, if the LEA applied for six student teachers, the LEA would receive a check for $60,000.
In regards to taxing the 10,000 - It was just mentioned that the LEA may decide to tax it before, if not the tax will be paid by the vendor. By the vendor, does that mean the student? Will the student need to report and pay back taxes for the 10,000?	In the case of accounts payable, the student teacher would be considered the "vendor." The student teacher would report to the IRS the payment via a 1099. Please consult with your institution's fiscal officers.
Will the stipend be prorated for student teachers who do not receive professional fitness clearance in August/September?	No. Once the student teacher is awarded the document that exemplifies the professional fitness review, the IHE and LEA may apply for the $10,000 on the student teacher's behalf. There is no prorating the stipends.
I understand the answer about taking taxes out being a local decision — but if student teachers ask us, is this taxable income to report?	It is recommended to refer the student teacher to a tax expert.
Apologies if this has been answered - do we pay in bulk $10000 at once or $1000 per month?	Commission guidance is to distribute the $10,000 at one time.
Is there guidance on how the stipend is to be distributed? Monthly, bimonthly, etc.?	Commission guidance is to distribute the $10,000 at one time.
What is the timeline for paying student teachers - May or June 2027?	Commission guidance is to distribute the $10,000 as soon as the LEA receives the grant funds.
Most integrated (undergraduate) student teacher candidates do not substitute due to the limitations of the 30-day substitute credential and not many LEAs helping with the 90-day prospective teacher credential. With that said, how would the CTC advise LEAs pay the student teachers for this? They are not an employee but have been cleared for student teaching as a volunteer.	This is a local decision. As an example from the teacher residency programs, some LEAs pay teacher residents either on salary or with accounts payable as a vendor.
We have a dual cred program and student teachers do 400-450 hours in the fall and then a new spring placement of 250 hours. what happens if those are in different districts? Related: Do we have to certify the 500 hours completed at any point?	Student teachers will receive the entire stipend as a result of their first clinical placement. And yes, IHEs will be required to provide data confirming that the student teacher completed 500 of the 600 required clinical practice hours.
What if we initially anticipate that a student teacher will have more than one placement, but that changes?	Student teachers will receive the entire stipend as a result of their first clinical placement.
Is this stipend award considered "employment?"	This is a local decision.
What if a student teacher converts to an intern midway through their program due to LEA need?	Authorizing legislation does not exclude individuals who start as student teachers and then change to interns from being awarded a stipend. Because it may take up to 55 business days before the LEA receives the grant funds to pay the stipend to the student teacher, if a student teacher has exited the program, or has become a teacher of record via an intern program before the grant funds were disbursed to the LEA, the student teacher should not be paid the student teacher stipend.
If a student teacher is placed in two different districts in spring vs fall, how will the original LEA confirm a student teacher is showing up outside their district?	Commission guidance is to distribute the $10,000 as soon as the LEA receives the grant funds. Student teachers will receive the entire stipend as a result of their first clinical placement. The LEA is not responsible for tracking the student teacher after they have left the LEA. As long as the student teacher did not exit the credential program before they ended their clinical practice or became an intern in the first setting, the LEA may pay the stipend.
If the check is issued to the LEA, who would be paying them? The LEA or the University? Is the LEA the passthrough and we would have the University invoice LEA? Asking because the LEA would take out labor related costs? If they are subbing that would include Strs	The student teacher is paid by the LEA once the LEA receives the grant funds. It is a local decision if the student teacher is paid as "accounts payable" or on payroll.
If a candidate does not finish student teaching before we get funds and therefore they do not get paid, what is the process for the LEA to refund the stipend?	This to be determined. Current process is that the LEA will keep the stipend payment for future use with a different student teacher.
Are there any conflicts with the stipend being dispersed to candidates as a vendor (1099) with CA labor laws regarding what qualifies someone as an independent contractor?	Not of which we are aware.
If the COE becomes the hub for the STSP consortium, does this go through an additional agreement? Or, is it as simple as the Districts assigning the GAA to the COE.	The LEA would confirm that the student teacher has begun the student teaching and then assign the signing of the Grant Award Agreement (GAA) and paying of the stipend to the COE.
When paying a student teacher who is cleared as a sub, there are benefits costs (i.e. worker's comp). With that, this reduces the amount that the student teacher will receive (in addition to the taxes that are taken out). Has the CTC considered this cost (in addition to taxes)? Thank you!	Yes, this has been considered, and how to pay the student teacher is a local decision.
If a 30-day sub. permit expires in the middle of the semester will this affect their eligibility of the stipend?	It will not affect their eligibility as long as the document does not expire prior to the date of the application for the student teacher.
Please confirm: is it possible that the county office distribute the funds on behalf of districts (LEAs)?	Yes.
Can a County Office of Ed serve as the LEA for all the districts in their County? This would help address equity issues if some districts don't want to participate.	LEAs can partner with COE's to be the fiscal agent for the stipend program; however, the LEA will be responsible for confirming that the student teacher has begun the clinical practice at the LEA. In the online application, this is a click of a button. When the COE is identified as the fiscal agent, the grant award agreement and disbursement of grant funds will go to the partner COE.
Can a county office serve as an authorizing/approving LEA for their districts? We have districts who are opting out and want to promote equitably pathways for our regional universities.	LEAs can partner with COE's to be the fiscal agent for the stipend program; however, the LEA will be responsible for confirming that the student teacher has begun the clinical practice at the LEA. In the online application, this is a click of a button. When the COE is identified as the fiscal agent, the grant award agreement and disbursement of grant funds will go to the partner COE.
Is this stipend considered creditable compensation if paid through Payroll? I’m thinking not, but have you had conversations with CalSTRS just to be sure?	It depends on how the LEA chooses to pay the student teacher. It is suggested to consult the institution's fiscal officers.
Cara mentioned that the student teacher will have to sign an award application. At what point does this happen? Are they emailed directly during the portal submission or is this a manual request?	The Grant Award Agreement (GAA) is signed by the LEA, not by the student teacher.
Is the first come, first served based on the date the IHE enters the name, or the LEA confirmation that the student teacher has started the assignment? There may be a significant gap between those two dates.	The order in which applications for student teachers are received is when the Commission receives the application after the LEA confirms that the student teacher has started the clinical practice in the LEA.
Fully understanding that this is a process…is there a “feel” for how long this process will take? Weeks…months…etc.? 🙂	From the IHE starting the application to the LEA receiving the grant funds and paying the student teacher will take months.
55 days - business days or calendar days?	Business days.
So there is a GAA for every single ST. Does that mean there is a DocuSign for every ST that has to be signed by our superintendent? Or the approved signer?	There will be one Docusign for the initial Grant Award Agreement (GAA). There will be an updated GAA to sign only if more student teachers are added in subsequent months.
What if student teacher does not complete their student teaching assignments?	There is no completion, service or payback requirement
If we pay the student teachers when they start what happens if they don't complete the process? How long do they have to earn the credential? Sometimes candidate complete TPA's after finishing student teaching and are recommended later.	There is no completion, service, or payback requirement
If a student teacher discontinues in a program but has been paid, do they have to pay it back?	No.
What if a candidate withdraws from a program or is removed? Or just doesn’t successfully complete a credential program? Maybe the award agreement explains the outcomes if these rare scenarios.	There is no completion, service, or payback requirement. As long as the student teacher did not exit the credential program or become an intern before they ended their clinical practice in the first setting, the LEA may pay the stipend.

General Questions

Question	Answer
Will you be sharing the presentation slide deck?	Yes, the slide deck will be available on the Commission website at Student Teacher Stipend Webinar 4.9.26
Will you be sharing the presentation slide deck?	Yes, the slide deck will be available on the Commission website at Student Teacher Stipend Webinar 4.9.26
Can you send me please the slides?	The slides are posted on the Commission website at Student Teacher Stipend Webinar 4.9.26
Where and when will this recording be posted?	The recording of the webinar was posted on Friday April 10th at: Student Teacher Stipend Program Webinar Recording - April 9, 2026
Can you post the url to the website Cara just mentioned?	Student Teacher Stipend Program
Can you put the STSP email address in the chat?	STSP@ctc.ca.gov
If my math is correct, there is enough $ to fund 10,000 student teachers in 26-27. How many candidates typically get credentialed each year?	You can refer to the Teacher Supply Report issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Teacher Supply: Credentials
If a candidate participates in CTC TRIE grant funded program for a general education credential, and then enrolls to continue on to earn an Education Specialist credential, could they be eligible for the STSP during the second credentialing program? Assuming they had received all eligible CTC TRIE funds during the first credentialing residency year and were not eligible for any additional funds during the second credentialing residency time?	Yes. Student teachers in a second credential program would be eligible if the second credential program has a requirement of 600 hours of clinical practice where the student teacher has the opportunity to complete at least 500 of the required 600 hours.
To the extent of LCAP, Would we as LEAs need to write something in the LCAP about this?	This is a local decision.
Will there be a list of LEAs choosing not to participate?	No.
Will this be 100,000,000 per year meaning a total of 300,000,000 over the course of the 3 years of the grant?	Yes. And because of the $6M to Kern County Superintendent of Schools to support the build of the grants management system, the multi-media campaign, and the independent evaluation, there will be $94 M in the 2028-29 academic year to distribute unless the apportionment is updated.
Can you clarify how the Student Teacher Stipend Program relates to the Golden State Teacher Grant? Specifically, does the STSP replace the Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG), or are they separate programs, and can eligible student teachers receive both if requirements are met?	The STSP and the GSTG are separate grant programs. Eligible student teachers may qualify for both.
Are LEAs able to opt out of the program?	The Commission is doing everything it can to demonstrate to the field the streamlined process of using the grants management system. There are many technical assistance opportunities planned to assist the field in understanding how the process will work. We encourage both LEAs and IHEs to take advantage of these. Ultimately, both the IHE and LEA must individually opt in to this program.
I understand that LEAs are able to opt out of this program. We will have hundreds of student teachers each semester and some of them will miss out on this grant because their district of choice is not going to participate. How do we advise them?	The Commission is doing everything it can to demonstrate to the field the streamlined process of using the grants management system. There are many technical assistance opportunities planned to assist the field in understanding how the process will work. We encourage both LEAs and IHEs to take advantage of these. Ultimately, both the IHE and LEA must individually opt in to this program.
It’s great that teacher candidates are eligible for this stipend! I’m thinking about IHEs making placements- Do you anticipate having any big districts that may choose not to participate? Or are all districts required to participate? If enough districts in an IHE’s placement area don’t participate, there could be challenges in placing some candidates with districts that have stipends and others that don’t…thinking about equity.	The Commission is doing everything it can to demonstrate to the field the streamlined process of using the grants management system. There are many technical assistance opportunities planned to assist the field in understanding how the process will work. We encourage both LEAs and IHEs to take advantage of these. Ultimately, both the IHE and LEA must individually opt in to this program.
It looks like aproximately 20,000 prelim credentials are granted in a year, but only 10,000 stipends available. How do we best support our candidates to getting these in their hands?	Though in the 2024-25 academic year 20,102 credentials were awarded, this number includes IHE prepared, LEA (intern) prepared, and Out of State/Out of Country prepared. The number of preliminary credentials awarded by IHE credential programs was 14,703 preliminary credentials. Of these, 1,302 were intern pathway candidates--that do not qualify for the student teacher stipend-- leaving 13,660 credential awarded. Of that number, approximately 1000 candidates were in a state-funded teacher residency pathway and would not qualify for the stipend, leaving about 12,660 credential candidates. It is true that the number of prospective preliminary credential candidates completing at least 500 of 600 total hours of clinical practice in a given year is likely greater than the 10,000 individuals who will be served by the $100 M a year that has been carved out for this purpose in the budget. However, the authorizing legislation does not provide the Commission with the authority to distribute more than $100 M in any given fiscal year.
Are we able to partner with multiple IHEs if we host student teachers from multiple universities?	Yes.
Do we need to update our current MOUs with LEAs? If so, what language do you suggest adding in?	This is a local decision.
Is there a (sample) MOU so that we can take the STSP grant to our district school board for approval?	The Commission does not have this.
Will this new system require a new/updated MOU/Affiliation Agreement specifically with STSP info between IHE and LEAs?	No.
Is there a benefit to submit in August and in January versus each month?	The benefit to submitting monthly the names of student teachers who qualify for the stipend is that the funding is first come, first served. If student teachers qualify in October, but the program waits until January to apply on their behalf, the grant funds may be exhausted by then.
If ST change placement then how can the LEA confirm that they are continuing to show up for their hours?	The LEA is not responsible for tracking the student teacher after they have left the LEA. As long as the student teacher did not exit the credential program before they ended their clinical practice in the first setting, the LEA may pay the stipend.
Can students earning dual credentials earn stipends twice?	No.
Will the portal be available before July 1?	No. However regional learning sessions where IHEs and LEAs can see the portals and interact with them in a test setting are scheduled for May 8, 15, 29, and June 5, and 12. Registration is now open for these learning sessions.
Will Ed Specialist candidates who are doing student teaching at Non Public Schools be eligible? Will the schools be in the drop-down?	Pursuant to Education Code 44400(b), “Local educational agency” means a school district, charter school, or county office of education. All LEAs falling within this definition are eligible to apply for the Student Teacher Stipend Program grant funding during the 2026-27 academic year to support student teachers in their schools. NPS schools are not eligible.
Will there be an agreement that the LEA needs to take to the Board of Education for approval?	This is a local decision.
Will there be a comprehensive list available for all districts that have been granted funds? Given for Fall 2026 student teacher placement requests are already going out, there are some concerns related to equitable opportunities after the fact.	No.
Will all school districts/LEAs automatically be enrolled? How will you know if they are going to accept funds?	No. LEAs are not automatically enrolled, but all LEAs are eligible. As IHEs partner with LEAs to place student teachers, perhaps IHEs would ask LEAs if they intend to participate in the Student Teacher Stipend Program.
Are there plans to provide similar stipends to school counselor and psychologist candidates some day?	Not of which we are aware.
When will student teachers know which school districts are participating in this program?	Student teachers will know when their credential program tells them or when they ask their credential program.
Will you be hosting open office hours monthly while this process gets off the ground?	See webinar power point slide 19, Next Steps
How long will the approval process take once the candidate submits their application?	The candidate does not submit an application. See webinar power point slide 18 for more information about the length of payment process to the LEA.
Can LEAs add any participation language to ensure program completion? Sadly, human nature is not always as ideal as this program assumes. If there is no repayment clause or no way to give the funds monthly to hold participants accountable, I see potential abuse. I doubt this is possible given what Cara has shared ,but perhaps your FAQs online can address this. Thank you.	Commission guidance is to not add any barriers to receiving the student teacher stipend, and this is also a local decision.
How do we get the webinar zoom link? Register? And also, will this be in PST-pacific standard time? Please and thank you. 🙂	The recording of the webinar was posted on Friday April 10. Please visit: Student Teacher Stipend Program
When will wel have the list of participating LEA's?	The Commission will not generate a list.
For those of us in rural areas, we are worried about LA, San Fran, Sac and other large metro areas taking the lion’s share of the funding with little left for the rural areas. The first come first serve system is equal, but not equitable. Can you speak to those concerns?	There are two systems in place that will hopefully assist with the Student Teacher Stipend Program being accessed completely by all LEAs, including for our rural sites. One, different from other grant programs administered by the Commission, this grant program has no projections of potential student teachers. With this, IHE/LEA partners must wait to apply for the number of actual student teachers in the credential program. Second, all IHEs/LEAs are allowed to apply (1) once the student teacher has begun the coursework for clinical practice, (2) when the student teacher has started the clinical practice at the LEA, and (3) when the student teacher has the shown evidence of professional review by the Commission as with a Certificate of Clearance or other document. We suspect that these three components will slow down the process and will provide all IHE/LEA partners to access grant funds.
Given the current financial climate, how are we expected to encourage LEAs to apply when this adds to their workload without any financial incentive? Could you share more about how this decision was made, and any guidance on how we should position this to LEAs?	The state of California authorized the Student Teacher Stipend Program in Education Code 44400 - 44400.03. Local education agencies are welcome to attend webinars and regional learning sessions to learn more about their role in the process and/or to ask questions of the Commission at STSP@ctc.ca.gov.
Can you now change the name of the Short Term Staffing Permit:) STSP	Thank you for the suggestion.

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