California Student Teacher Support Grant Program.

Assembly Member Muratsuchi's proposal to establish the California Student Teacher Support Grant Program aims to provide financial compensation to teaching credential candidates during their mandatory 600-hour clinical practice requirement. The program, which would operate under the Commission on Teacher Credentialing's administration, would offer stipends equal to local substitute teacher daily rates.

Local educational agencies seeking to participate must require criminal background checks for all candidates and obtain commitments that participants will complete both their teaching credential requirements and clinical practice hours. The Commission would develop selection criteria and issue funding applications to all eligible agencies, defined as school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education.

The Commission would submit annual reports to legislative education committees detailing the number of funded student teachers, alignment with local teacher shortage needs, and participant demographics. The program's implementation remains contingent on a one-time legislative appropriation, with funding to be applied toward constitutional minimum funding requirements for school districts and community colleges.