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The grant program, which has distributed over $570 million since 2020-21, appears to be making a significant dent in the state's persistent teacher shortage. Nearly half of California's new teacher candidates received the grant in 2023-24 when it became available to all candidates.
"The GSTG is a popular program that has supported over 28,000 aspiring educators," the report states. The number of recipients increased annually from 2020-21 through 2023-24 as eligibility expanded and awareness grew.
The program likely contributed to a 23% jump in preliminary teaching credentials issued to California-prepared candidates between 2022-23 and 2023-24, researchers found.
The grant has been particularly effective at supporting candidates from backgrounds underrepresented in teaching. Nearly four in five recipients were income-eligible for federal Pell Grants, indicating significant financial need—far higher than the one-third of California undergraduates who received Pell Grants in 2022-23.
More than 70% of surveyed recipients identified as people of color, and these candidates were especially likely to report the grant influenced their decision to pursue teaching and work in high-need schools.
"Nearly three quarters of survey respondents said the GSTG was influential in their decision to pursue teaching, and two thirds said the grant was influential in their decision to teach in a high-need school," according to the report.
