Golden State Teacher Grant Program.

Existing law establishes the Golden State Teacher Grant Program under the administration of the Student Aid Commission to award grants to students enrolled in professional preparation programs leading to a preliminary teaching credential or a pupil personnel services credential who commit to work at a priority school for 4 years, as provided. Existing law defines "priority school " as a school with 55% or more of its pupils being unduplicated pupils, as defined. Existing law makes funds appropriated for the program in the Budget Acts of 2020 and 2021 available for encumbrance or expenditure by the commission until June 30, 2026. This bill would instead require, commencing with new grants awarded on or after January 1, 2024, the student candidates to commit to work for 4 years in a shortage area, as designated by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, at any California public or nonpublic school, as provided. The bill would make funds appropriated for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program in the Budget Acts of 2022 and 2023 available for encumbrance or expenditure by the commission until June 30, 2028. Existing law requires the commission to conduct an evaluation of the program to determine the effectiveness of the program to recruit and employ credential candidates and credentialholders at priority schools, and to provide a report to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2025, and every 2 years thereafter, as provided. This bill would revise and conform requirements regarding the evaluation of the program, and would require the Student Aid Commission to annually collect demographic data on the recipients of the grant programs, commencing with new grants awarded on or after January 1, 2024, and to annually report that information to the Legislature, as provided.