Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG)

 

The Golden State Teacher Grant Program (GSTG) awards between $10,000 and $20,000 to students enrolled in an approved teaching credential or preparation program leading to a pupil personnel services credential. The payment can be distributed throughout multiple academic years; however, students must complete their credential program within six years from the date the first payment is disbursed to student.

Students must commit to work at a priority school or a California State Preschool Program (CSPP) in accordance with the terms of their specific Service Agreement.  

2024-2025 Important Update: our office will begin processing applications for the 2024-25 aid year after University Census (9/23/24), and disbursement wil start arriving early November.   The 2024-25 GSTG Certification Request form is available now.

What Are the Grant Requirements?

 

To be eligible for the Golden State Teacher Grant, a student must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Be currently enrolled in a California-based professional preparation program approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). For a list of eligible programs please visit the CTC websiteOpens in new window

  • Be working towards a preliminary teaching, or pupil personal services credential

  • Submit a FAFSA or CA Dream Act application

  •  Must maintain good academic standing by meeting SAP: satisfactory academic progress

  • Commit to work at an eligible priority or a CSPP by signing a Service Agreement 

Priority School

A “priority school” is a school with more than 55 percent of pupils who are classified as an English Learner, eligible for a free or reduced-price meal, or current foster youth. The current list of priority schools is on CSAC's websiteOpens in new window .

 

CSPP: California State Preschool Program

 

A CSPP is a state-funded or fedrally funded preschool program in California, including tribal and Head Start programs. A new CSPP list is published every school year that includes all eligible, active programs.

 

2024-25 aid year legislation updates due to State Budget established three cohorts of GSTG applicants with varying additional eligibility restrictions, maximum award amounts, award prioritizations, funding restrictions, and service obligations:

  Cohort 1 Cohort 2 Cohort 3
Description GSTG recipients paid less than the maximum award in prior years and continue tomeet program eligibility criteria. New applicants who submitted a 2024-25 GSTG application on or prior to 6/30/2024. New applicants who submitted a 2024-25 GSTG application on or after 7/1/2024 or are not awarded in Cohort 2 due to awarding prioritization and funding restrictions.
Additional Eligibility Restrictions None. None. Intern credential programs do not qualify for GSTG participation.
Maximum Award $20,000 ($10,000 for online institutions participating under Section 69617.5). $20,000 ($10,000 for online instituions participating under Section 69617.5). $10,000 ($5,000 for online institutions participating under Section 69617.5).
Awarding Prioritization None. Prioritized based on lowest to highest Student Aid Index. Prioritized based on lowest to highest Student Aid Index.
Funding Restrictions None - Up to the remaining funds available to each eligible recipient may be paid. $50 million awarding cap. Award up to the remaining available program funds.
Service Obligation Complete 4 years of service within 8 years of their program completion date. Complete 4 years of service within 8 years of their program completion date. Complete 2 years of service within 4 years of their program completion date.

 

What happens if I do not fulfill the terms of the Grant?

The Service Agreement (SA) outlines your obligations under the provisions of the grant. Your 2-year  4-year service obligation will begin when any of the following occur:

  • No longer meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP)

  • Complete your professional preparation program

  • Withdraw from your professional preparation program

  • Fail to complete your program and obtain your credential within 3

    years after the first distribution of GSTG funds

Upon your deadline (outlined on your SA), for every year your service obligation is not met, you will be required to repay 25% or 50% of your total awarded amount. For those years your obligation is met, no repayment will be necessary. If the recipient has a 4-year service obligation (Cohorts 1 and 2) and completes :

  • 1 year = Repay 75% of the awarded amount

  • 2 years = Repay 50% of the awarded amount

  • 3 years = Repay 25% of the awarded amount

  • 4 years = No Repayment, obligation complete

If the recipient has a 2-year service obligation (Cohort 3) and completes:

  • 1 year = Repay 50% of the awarded amount
  • 2 years = No Repayment, obligation complete

Application Process

Applicants may qualify for between $10,000 - $20,000 during enrollment of the program, eligibility is determined upon each student’s Cost of Attendance, other Financial Aid awarded, and the students' corresponding application period (cohort).  There is Financial Aid available to teaching creadential students that is finalized after University Census, this includes Credential Pell Grant, Middle Class Scholarship and the federal TEACH grant.  Due to these processing times, to get the most accurate GSTG eligibility, processing of this grat happens after University Center and after the other grants have been determined. 

  • Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a CA Dream Act Application (CADAA) for the academic year you are applying for the GSTG.

  • Create an account and submit a GSTG online applicationOpens in new window . For 2024-2025 aid year, the Deadline is April 1, 2025 or until all funds have been awarded, whichever occurs first. If you already received a GSTG award during the prior year but did not receive your maximum GSTG amount, do not submit a new application, CSAC will review your application and make the certification page on WebGrants available for our office to review.  

  • Review and complete our GSTG Certification Request Form and submit to the Financial Aid Office - 2024-25 Deadline is April 1, 2025.  Form must be submitted every academic year you are enrolled for GSTG payment to be processed.  Forms submitted prior to semester starting will be processed after University Census; forms submitted after University Census are processed in about 2-3 weeks.  

  • Sign Service Agreement (SA) within 30 days. After Financial Aid office processes the GSTG Certification Request Form and certifies an amount online, you will get an email from CSAC to sign the SA online through your GSTG portal.

    • After SA is signed, CSAC sends the payment between 6 - 8 weeks to the Financial Aid Office.

  • Financial Aid Office requests GSTG payment. Time frame: 1-2 weeks.

  • GSTG Funds are disbursed to student. 

    • GSTG are coordinated with your existing Financial Aid Awards. If requested in the Certification Request form, loans will be reduced or canceled. If you are signed up for Direct Deposit, the GSTG funds are deposited on your bank account within a week of being posted on your Financial Aid package.

Determining Eligibility

The GSTG amount is determined based on your estimated Cost of Attendance (COA), minus other Financial Aid awarded. 

 

  • Formula: COA – Financial Aid  = GSTG Eligibility  
    • The COA (i.e., budget) includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses for one academic year. If you enroll in summer classes, a separate cost of attendance is built based on summer costs. 
    • The Financial Aid awarded include grants, scholarships, and loans.  However, you have the option to request a reduction or cancelation of student loan(s) you may have accepted or received.  This means that GSTG funds will replace the loans, essentially paying off a portion or the entirety of your loans for the Academic Year or semester. 
  • GSTG approval will also impact the amount you may have been awarded in Middle-Class Scholarship (MCS); in most cases, it will result in a cancelation as GSTG is typically a higher amount than MCS.
  • If you applied for a Federal Teach Grant, it may delay the processing of your GSTG application.  Teach Grant eligibility must be determined first before we can certify the GSTG application, the amount of TEACH Grant will determine your remaining eligibility for GSTG. 
  • Funds can be awarded for the full academic year, including Summer (if enrolled), or one term only.  Typically, when a student requests GSTG funds for the full year (including summer), the $10,000 or $20,000 award will split at 1/3 for each term, however each student's situation may be different depending on their COA, and other Financial Aid available.   A student's eligibility is not guaranteed, it is subject to the remaining eligibility for the new aid year, meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress, and availability of state funds. 

 

Summer Eligibility Information

  • funds can be awarded for the full academic year, including Summer session (if enrolled).  Checkmark the Summer term on the GSTG certification form if you are planning/or required to enroll in Summer, this will create a separate GSTG disbursement for summer.  
  • Typically, when a student requests GSTG funds for the full year (including summer), the award will be split at 1/3 for each term, however, each student's situation may be different depending on their COA, and other Financial Aid available.  
  • If you receive the maximum GSTG payment allowed for your cohort ($10,000 or $20,000) during the Fall and Spring semesters, you may save a portion of those funds to pay for future semesters, such as Summer.

 

Please review the Cost of Attendance budgets below with examples of Financial Aid awarded and how it impacts the amount of GSTG that can be offered to you.

 

Scenario #1: The maximum GSTG amount that can be awarded is $18,613. 

Academic Year (Off-Campus)

 Cost of Attendance (COA):

$ 31,273.00

 

Minus

 

Grants/Scholarships

$ 12,660.00

Student Loan

$ 0

=

Golden State Teacher Grant eligibility

$ 18,613.00

 

Scenario #2: The maximum GSTG amount that can be awarded is $20,000, since there is no other Financial Aid accepted. Please note, if your maximum GSTG amount is $10,000, this is the maximum that will be awarded.

Academic Year (Commuter)

 Cost of Attendance (COA):

$ 21,972.00

 

Minus

 

Grants/Scholarships

$ 0

Student Loan

$ 0

=

Golden State Teacher Grant eligibility

$ 20,000.00

 

Scenario #3: The maximum GSTG amount that can be awarded is $3,976, or student can request loan cancelation, and then our office can award $8,976 in GSTG funds. 

 One Semester (Off-Campus)

 Cost of Attendance (COA):

$ 15,636.00

 

Minus

 

Grants/Scholarships

$ 6,660.00

Student Loan 

$ 5,000.00

=

Golden State Teacher Grant eligibility

$ 3,976.00

Have more questions?

For information on the Service Agreement and the online WebGrants application, contact California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) Golden State Teacher Grant Program at:

goldenstateteachers@csac.ca.govOpens in new window
Golden State Teacher Grant WebsiteOpens in new window
1-888-224-7268

For information on the process of your application at CSUF:

Contact the Office of Financial Aid

Phone: 657-278-3125

or submit an inquiry through our Financial Aid Questions ticketing system on our Contact Us page.