The Golden State Teacher Grant now includes pupil personnel services, which allows school counselors and school psychologists to participate in the one-time grant fund opportunity. 

“This Golden State Teacher Grant is a great financial resource, and we are thrilled that this opportunity is now available to our students in our M.A. School Counseling and Ed.S. School Psychology programs,” said Dr. Kennedy. “This grant will help students pursuing a career in pupil personnel, fund their education and prepare them to make a difference in the schools that need them most.”

Who Qualifies for the Golden State Teacher Grant?

Students participating in a professional preparation program leading to a California pupil personnel services credential, at a qualifying institution, can apply to the Golden State Teacher Grant Program to receive a one-time grant of up to $10,000. Students must plan to work in a California public school designated as a “priority school” (see below) for four years after graduation.

  • Students enrolled in the following Attallah College programs qualify: MA School Counseling, Ed.S. in School Psychology, Teacher Education & Special Education, MACI (fifth year only).
  • Enrollment timeline: Students who have applied for enrollment to the designated Attallah College programs, on or after January 1, 2020 are eligible to participate in the grant.
  • Incoming students: CSAC is working to develop a process by which students that express interest to enroll in a preliminary teaching credential or pupil personnel services credential, may submit a request for a pre-enrollment conditional award notice. This will allow you to plan ahead, so that you can earmark grant funds towards your tuition costs.

What Are the Grant Requirements? 

Before accepting the Golden State Teacher Grant, all pupil personnel applicants must agree to the terms and conditions of the agreement. In addition to completing the program requirements, the agreement requires recipients to fulfill several conditions:

  • Work at a priority school. The grant requires students to work in California at a priority school – and to complete 2 years of service within 4 years of their program completion date.
  • A current list of priority schools is available on the CTC website.
  • Maintain good academic standing. Grant recipients must maintain good academic standing while they are enrolled in their CTC-approved preparation program. Students must complete their preparation program and earn a preliminary credential within three years after the first distribution of grant funds.

As with most grant agreements, if Golden State Teacher Grant recipients do not fulfill each of these obligations within the allotted time frame, they must repay the grant reward in part or in full. See the GSTG website for more details.

What Are the Steps to Apply?

As a CTC-accredited institution, Chapman University’s Attallah College of Educational Studies is proud to be a Golden State Teacher Grant program. Here are the steps to apply for the grant and begin a career in education at Chapman:

  1. Apply to an eligible CTC-approved Attallah College program:
  2. Be accepted into and enroll in Chapman University.
  3. Apply for the Golden State Teacher Grant.
  4. California Student Aid Commission will notify Chapman’s Financial Aid Office of your accepted application.
  5. Chapman’s Attallah College of Educational Studies will notify you once your grant funds become available.

Is Other Financial Aid Available?

In addition to these external sources of financial aid, most Chapman graduate students receive a partial tuition fellowship, which is often underwritten by our generous donors. All GSTG information is updated for AY 2025-26 (pending state budget allocation).