STEP Students

Grant Programs

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:

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 or Repay web page, including the Fact Sheet, before completing and submitting the Agreement to Serve.

CA State Grant Programs

Stanford is not participating in California Student Aid Programs at the current time.  If you would have qualified for support through one of California’s programs as follows, Stanford will provide institutional funding as a replacement.

• Cal Grant. If you received Cal Grant funding as an undergrad within 15 months prior to starting the STEP program and are otherwise eligible for a 5th year extension for enrolling in a Teacher Credential program, equivalent grant funding will be provided.  Cal Grants are used for the 3 quarters during the academic year.  You will receive more details about how to document your eligibility over the summer.
• Golden State Teacher Grant. Eligibility and awarding for new 2026-27 applicants will be dependent on the 2026-27 State Budget.  More information about alternative funding will be made available when that information is available (usually during the summer).