Teach San Mateo County

Thinking About a Career in Teaching?

The San Mateo County Office of Education is committed to strengthening this pipeline and ensuring that all schools in San Mateo County have access to highly qualified educators for the benefit of all students. The California Department of Education has a wonderful resource called TEACH California, which curates helpful information for both aspiring and established educators. The website provides guidance on whether teaching might be a good fit, as well as information on the steps to getting a California teaching credential.

CSEA Education Services

The California School Employees Association offers many member benefits related to education, including grants, tuition assistance, and student loan reducer programs. Visit their website for more details: CSEA Education Services

Grants and Financial Aid

California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program (CCSETC)

If you are a classified school employee who would like to earn a teaching credential, the California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program (CCSETC) provides up to $4,800 per year to assist you with books and tuition while attending an institution of higher education. Eligible classified participants must have an Associate of Arts or Science degree or higher.  Participants must also commit to accomplish the following:

• Graduate from an institution of higher education with a bachelor's degree.
• Complete all of the requirements for obtaining a multiple subject, single subject, or an education specialist teaching credential.
• Complete one school year of classroom instruction in a San Mateo County school district or the county office of education for each year that assistance for tuition and books are provided under the grant.

Review our September 13, 2023 presentation for a quick overview of the CCSETC grant processes and requirements.  Contact Mike Pappas, Director of Human Resources for more details at mpappas@smcoe.org or 650-802-5382.

Federal Grants

For students interested in becoming teachers, there are two main federal grant programs:

• The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant provides up to $4,000 per year to students who are completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career in teaching.
• The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is a grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. Grantees can receive $100 to $4,000 per year.

There are also a number of state-funded grants, such as the Golden State Teacher Grant Program. You can learn about others through the TEACH California website.

Loan Forgiveness

Established teachers are eligible to have some or all of their federal student debt repaid through three programs:

• The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education as a way to encourage individuals to enter and continue in the teaching profession. Applicants may be eligible for forgiveness of up to $17,500 on direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans or subsidized and unsubsidized federal Stafford loans.
• The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program forgives the remaining balance on certain types of loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer.
• Teachers with loans from the Federal Perkins Loan Program are also eligible for loan cancellation or deferment if they teach full time at a low-income school or in certain subject areas.

There may also be additional state- or city-sponsored loan forgiveness programs, which you can access through a searchable database compiled by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Housing

Although income in San Mateo County is higher than in many other areas across the state, this difference is tempered by the high cost of living. The resources provided in this section are designed to support those looking for affordable housing in the Bay Area.

Renting

• The Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California outlines the basic steps for identifying housing within the Bay Area.
• One Degree is a nonprofit website that lets you search affordable housing listings you are eligible for.
• Human Investment Project (HIP) Housing lets you search for shared housing and provides monthly listings of available rooms.
• Housing Search is a free service provided by the County of San Mateo that lists rentals and shared housing.
• The Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County works with communities to produce and preserve affordable homes and also has housing resources available.

Buying

• The Housing Endowment and Regional Trust (HEART) of San Mateo County program offers below-market-rate loans to first-time homebuyers who can make a 5% down payment.
• The California Housing Finance Agency has information on different loan and down payment programs to assist with the purchase of a home.