Education finance: Golden State Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Teacher Grant Program.

Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to, among other duties, establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, require the commission to establish the Golden State Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Teacher Grant Program. The bill would require the commission to select a county office of education to administer the program to provide specified grants to each student enrolled in an approved teacher credentialing program who commits to working in a STEM field, at a school district, county office of education, or charter school, for 4 years after he or she receives a preliminary teaching credential, and when he or she has completed 2 and 4 years of the teaching obligation, as provided. The bill would require the administrator of the grant program to annually report the status and progress of the Golden State STEM Teacher Grant Program to the commission and to submit a final implementation report, within 7 years of being selected as the administrator, that describes the outcomes and effectiveness of the program.