Classified Employee Grant (Five-County Consortium)

Classified Employee Grant (Five-County Consortium) is a grant from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (managed by Imperial County Office of Education) that funds classified school employees pursuing teaching credentials in California.

Awarded in 2022 to a five-county consortium covering Orange, Butte, Imperial, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties, the program addresses the state's teacher shortage in STEM, special education, bilingual education, and transitional kindergarten. Participants receive approximately $3,500 per year to assist with teacher education pathway expenses, along with academic guidance and transitional support.

Eligible applicants are classified employees in the five participating county systems who have at least 60 college units, intend to enroll in a CTC-approved teacher preparation program, and do not already hold a credential.

Classified Employee Grant | Imperial County Office of Education Classified Employee Grant Classified Employee Grant Now Accepting Applications! Awarded by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Classified Employee Grant (CEG) seeks to provide guidance and financial assistance to those who are pursuing a teaching credential.

The CEG was awarded in 2022 to a five-county consortium including Orange County Department of Education, Butte County Office of Education, Imperial County Office of Education, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, and San Diego County Office of Education. The goal of the CEG is to address the state’s teacher shortage in the areas of STEM, special education, bilingual education, and transitional kindergarten.

In addition, the CEG seeks to provide financial assistance to help participants complete their undergraduate education and/or teacher preparation program. Additional support will be provided ​​​to grant awardees via academic guidance and transitional support as they become credentialed teachers in California. Our CEG participants will have access to approximately $3,500 per year to assist with teacher education pathway expenses.

As a five-county consortium, we have structured the CEG to support all participants in passing required credential exams and assessments. To meet this goal, we have developed online courses and resources to support the passing of the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET), Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA), and California Teacher Performance Assessment (CalTPA).

In addition, all participants will be individually mentored and guided by an Educational Advisor throughout the participant’s participation in the grant.

To be eligible for the grant, potential candidates must be a classified employee through one of the following counties: Orange County Department of Education, Butte County Office of Education, Imperial County Office of Education, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, or San Diego County Office of Education. ​ Applicants must be interested in pursuing a teaching credential and have completed a minimum of 60 college units.

Candidates must intend to enroll in a California-based professional preparation program approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. If a bachelor's degree ​is pending, the candidate must also intend to complete their undergraduate degree in a California-based college or university. You do not need to have a bachelor's degree or be currently in a credential program to apply for this grant.

( Click here for a list of Commission-approved institutions offering California preparation programs​). Grant participants must adhere to all grant requirements to maintain their status in the grant and eligibility for grant funds. Note: Applicants who currently hold a preliminary credential or cleared credential are not eligible for this grant.

Applicants who are pursuing a ​Career Technical Education (CTE) credential, Pupil Personnel Service (PPS) School Counseling credential, or Speech-Language Pathology Service (SPS) credential are not eligible to apply for this grant. Applicants completing their undergraduate degree from an out-of-state college or university do not qualify for this grant.

Applicants completing a teacher preparation program from a non-commission-approved institution do not qualify for this grant. Once accepted into the CEG, all grant participants will be assigned to an Educational Advisor. Educational Advisors will mentor, guide and support grant participants with their unique teacher pathway throughout their participation in the CEG.

Grant participants meet with their Educational Advisor for three formal online meetings through Zoom or by phone. During advising meetings, Educational Advisors collaborate with participants on an Individualized Pathway Plan to monitor participants’ progress and outline their next steps. ​ The Educational Advisor provides participants with access to information and resources to help meet their educational goals and needs.

In an effort to support grant participants to meet credential requirements, the grant will provide targeted support through our online education courses from one of our partnered community colleges: Feather River College, Mendocino College, or College of the Siskiyous. Enrollment in the grant educational course does not interfere with the participant’s current institution or future enrollment to their preferred institution.

The grant educational course is completed alongside the participant’s current and future courses. This course is offered free of charge. Grant participants are eligible for a living stipend of $3,500 each academic year to sup​port them in their pathway toward obtaining a teaching credential.

To receive the funds, participants must be in 'Good Standing' in the grant and provide evidence that they are making progress in their teaching pathway. We are currently accepting applications for the 2024-2025 academic year. This is an open enrollment on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Please be aware that applicants from five counties (Butte, Imperial, Orange, San Diego, and San Bernardino) are applying for this grant, so space is limited. For the application to be accepted, you must upload all of the documents below as PDF file. See the links below to download and submit it to the application.

Grant Application (pages 1-5) Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended NOTE: This grant application and submission links are only for classified employees working in districts within ICOE. ​​ ​ ​​ ​ Click Here to Download Application Click Here to Submit Application GRANT INFORMATION - LEARN MORE Please watch the short video to learn more about the Classified Employee Grant.

This video provides you with an overview of the grant and the application process. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Cynthia Beltran at cbeltran@icoe. org .