Student Teacher Stipend Program
Welcome to the Student Teacher Stipend Program Online Application Portal!
Through this portal, institutions of higher education (IHEs) and local education agencies (LEAs) will apply on behalf of eligible student teachers for a $10,000 stipend to support them during the completion of 500 or more hours of clinical practice during their credential program.
How the application process works:
Institution of Higher Education (IHE)
IHEs partner with LEAs to identify eligible student teachers, coordinate clinical placements, and provide evidence of professional fitness review for stipend eligibility.
IHEs begin the process by submitting a list of student teachers to appropriate LEAs via the IHE portal. IHEs may submit names of student teachers monthly.
IHEs will be responsible for reporting to the Commission candidate completion of required hours and credential program.
IHE Submission Checklist:
- Name of student teacher
- Confirmation of professional fitness (document number for a Certificate of Clearance (COC), substitute credential, etc.)
- Note: per authorizing legislation, student teachers must have professional fitness review to receive a stipend. Student teacher candidate will not move to the LEA until professional fitness is confirmed.
- Credential(s) student teacher is seeking
- County, district, school site(s) of clinical placement(s)
- LEA partner(s) contact information
Local Education Agency (LEA)
LEAs receive Prop 98 grant funds to provide stipends to student teachers placed within their schools for clinical practice.
LEAs will review student teachers submitted by IHEs, confirm that they have begun student teaching with the LEA, and will submit the application for funding to the Commission.
LEAs will sign a Grant Award Agreement (GAA) which will be updated monthly if additional student teachers are added for the academic year.
LEAs will pay the student teacher the $10,000 stipend.
LEAs will be responsible for reporting to the Commission confirmation of stipend payment.
LEA Submission Checklist:
- LEA point of contact
- Grant Award Agreement (GAA) authorized signer information
- Fiscal Agent Information
- Superintendent Information
- Information about how the student teacher will be paid
Commission Staff
After the LEA submits an application, Commission staff will review it for completeness and compliance with Education Code 44400 - 44400.03 requirements.
The Commission accepts applications on a monthly basis throughout the academic year. LEAs may submit one application per month as new student teachers are identified.
Once an application is approved, the Commission will execute a grant award agreement with the LEA and process payment so the LEA can distribute stipends to eligible student teachers.
After student teachers complete their clinical practice hours and credential programs, the Commission will collect completion reports from both IHEs and LEAs.
About the Program
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing administers the Student Teacher Stipend Program, established in Assembly Bill 121 and codified in Education Code 44400 - 44400.03, providing $300 million in funding to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to support student teachers during the completion of 500 or more hours of their student teaching experience.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, $100 million of the total $300 million will be available to LEAs to support student teachers. Moreover, to the extent funds are available, up to $100 million dollars shall be awarded annually through the 2028-2029 academic year.