Grants Available to Classified Staff Who Want to Become Teachers

03/30/2018 -

Current classified staff wanting to become teachers have a new opportunity to apply for up to five years of financial assistance through the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Classified staff are school employees who do not hold a teaching credential. Funds will pay for college tuition/intern credential tuition, books, and fees (approximately $2,800/year), as well as guidance/support and credential program preparation.

Known as the California Classified School Employees to Teacher Credentialing Program Grant for Round 2, this funding opportunity has been awarded to Sonoma County Office of Education on behalf of interested school districts and county offices of education.

This program could be particularly helpful for districts and counties with current classified staff who already hold a Bachelor’s Degree and want to become a credentialed teacher. It could also help alleviate the state teaching shortage by getting staff who are already living in the community and working with students certificated as teachers. Funds would cover more than half of the tuition and include fees for the North Coast School of Education’s "Be A Teacher" Intern Program. The grant may also be used towards tuition at other accredited universities or to provide tuition support for applicants who currently hold an Associate’s Degree and are interested in earning their Bachelor's Degree and teaching credential.

Any classified employee in a school, district, or county office of education is eligible to apply. Applicants must be a classified employee at the time of application with an Associate’s Degree or two full years of college.