Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG)
Up to $20,000, with cohort-specific award and service terms; requires timely credential completion and work at a priority school or California State Preschool Program.
About Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG)
GSTG is state aid for teacher and pupil-services preparation in approved programs; it combines funding with a professional service obligation.
Applicants must be currently enrolled in a Commission on Teacher Credentialing-approved professional preparation program at a California institution and file FAFSA or CADAA. CSAC assigns rules by application cohort and Student Aid Index; the portal and agreement identify the applicable terms. Berkeley notes that new 2026–27 awards depend on the state budget and may close when funding is exhausted.
File FAFSA or CADAA, register in the CSAC portal, complete the GSTG application, and coordinate with your program’s graduate student affairs and financial-aid offices. If offered an award, read and return the Service Agreement within its stated deadline—Berkeley says 30 days—before accepting. Confirm that your intended employer appears on the state’s eligible priority-school or preschool list.
Who it serves and what it can cover: Up to $20,000, with cohort-specific award and service terms; requires timely credential completion and work at a priority school or California State Preschool Program.
How to apply or get help: File FAFSA or CADAA, register in the CSAC portal, complete the GSTG application, and coordinate with your program’s graduate student affairs and financial-aid offices. If offered an award, read and return the Service Agreement within its stated deadline—Berkeley says 30 days—before accepting. Confirm that your intended employer appears on the state’s eligible priority-school or preschool list. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.
Public student financial-aid program