STEP Students

Grant Programs

Cal Grants

If you are enrolling in STEP (Stanford Teacher Education Program), and you previously received a Cal Grant A or B as an undergraduate student, you may be eligible for a fifth year of Cal Grant funding for California teacher certification.

The Financial Aid Office will automatically consider your eligibility for Cal Grant funds when you have completed the application requirements listed under the Requirements and Deadlines section, which are the same as for federal student loan applicants.

Download the form Request for Cal Grant Teaching Credential Program Benefits and contact the California Student Aid Commission for details and procedures for securing the grant.

TEACH Grants

STEP students who are planning to become teachers at the primary or secondary school level may want to consider applying for a federal TEACH Grant. The normal award limit for TEACH Grants is $4,000 per nine-month academic year, with an overall program cap of $8,000. However, as a result of federal sequestration, TEACH awards must be reduced from the amount for which the student otherwise would have been eligible. The reduction percentages depend on the date of the first disbursement:

First Disbursement Date	Reduction
October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021	5.70%
October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022	5.70% (unchanged)
October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023	5.70% (unchanged)
October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024	5.70% (unchanged)

You should be aware that if you fail to exactly meet the teaching service requirements specified in your TEACH Grant agreement, your grant will be converted into an unsubsidized federal Direct loan, with interest calculated retroactively from the date you received the grant funds.  You should carefully review the detailed information on the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve web page, including the Fact Sheet, before completing and submitting the Agreement to Serve.

Golden State Teacher Grant

STEP students who are planning to earn a credential in a high-need field and who commit to teach at a priority school, as deemed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), may qualify to receive a Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG) of up to $20,000.

For more information about the program, including how to apply, visit the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) website.

Updated on March 6, 2024 9:57 AM