California Offers $10,000 Incentive for Students to Become Teachers
Student teacher stipend helps reduce financial barriers to the teaching profession
Sacramento, CA (Oct. 13, 2026) – Aspiring teachers in California may now receive $10,000 in financial assistance from the Student Teacher Stipend Program, the state’s latest investment in addressing the persistent teacher shortage while promoting careers in the classroom.
The Student Teacher Stipend Program provides students enrolled in eligible teacher preparation programs with $10,000 while they complete in-classroom student teaching, a requirement that until now has typically been unpaid.
The financial incentive is a key message of “Teach for California,” a dynamic multimedia campaign designed to inform and inspire the next generation of educators across the Golden State.
“California’s students deserve excellent teachers, and that starts with making sure aspiring educators have the support, preparation, and resources they need to enter the profession and succeed in the classroom. By investing in future teachers today, we’re strengthening California’s classrooms and building a stronger educator workforce for years to come,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
The financial burden of completing at least 600 hours of unpaid student teaching prevented an untold number of aspiring educators from ever earning their teaching credential, according to Mary Vixie Sandy, Executive Director of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
“The new Student Teacher Stipend Program directly addresses this challenge by providing financial support for eligible student teachers while they work alongside experienced educators to develop the skills needed to lead their own classroom,” she said.
The 2026-27 state budget allocates $408 million for the Student Teacher Stipend Program, which was created last year with a $300 million investment. The annual stipend funding will increase from $100 million to $125 million, enough to support a total of 12,500 student teachers.
One of the first students in the pipeline to receive funding this fall is Melissa Aguilera, a sixth-grade student teacher at McKee Middle School in Bakersfield.
“Between graduating with my bachelor’s and applying for the credential program, I needed to take time off of school to solely work on saving money in order to afford tuition for the prerequisite classes and credential program,” Aguilera said. “Without the stipend, I would be continuing to tap into my savings to pay for certain bills and necessities.”
Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, student teachers pursuing credentials in high-need fields, such as science, math, and special education, will be eligible for an additional $5,000 stipend.
Teacher candidates in preparation programs do not apply directly for the Student Teacher Stipend.
Student teaching involves partnerships between local education agencies and institutions of higher education. As such, both partners have a role in submitting the stipend application on behalf of students enrolled in eligible teacher preparation programs once they have started their student teaching.
The Student Teacher Stipend Program builds on California’s historic investments in addressing the teacher workforce shortage.
The state has invested more than $2.3 billion since 2016, in programs to support teacher recruitment, preparation, and retention. Major initiatives include the Teacher Residency Grant Program, Golden State Teacher Grant Program, and National Board Certification Incentive Program.
California’s sustained investments in the teacher workforce are starting to demonstrate encouraging results. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing’s most recent 2024-25 Teacher Supply Report shows the highest number of preliminary teaching credentials issued in more than a decade.
Additional Resources
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
