California LGBTQ Safety in Schools Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by California Teachers Association

INTRODUCTION
The LGBTQ+ Safety in Schools Grant and Scholarship Program — renamed in 2009 to honor CTA member and educator Guy DeRosa — was established to advance human and civil rights by helping make public schools safe and welcoming for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning+ (LGBTQ+) students and staff. Guy DeRosa was a lifelong advocate for civil rights and LGBTQ+ issues.

Deadline: Friday, May 29, 2026

ADMINISTRATION AND CHARGE
A Grant and Scholarship Committee reviews all applications submitted under this program and forwards its recommendations to the CTA Board of Directors for final approval. (Program adopted July 2009; amended May 2013, March 2016, November 2017.)

AWARDS
Grants and scholarships up to $2,500 each will be awarded annually to successful applicants.

GRANT PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Purpose: Grants are intended to fund group-based projects, activities, or presentations that foster understanding of and respect for LGBTQ+ people and that are implemented directly with students. Projects that specifically acknowledge and celebrate ethnic and other diversity within LGBTQ+ youth will receive special consideration.

Prohibited uses: Grant funds may not pay for individual or group release time, stipends, honoraria, speaker or performer fees. Autonomous groups, Service Center Councils, UniServ, and CTA caucuses are not eligible to receive grants.

GRANT ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be one of the following:
- An active CTA or CTA Aspiring Educators (CTA-AE) member; or
- A public school student or student group sponsored by an active CTA or CTA-AE member.

GRANT CRITERIA AND APPLICATION ESSAY
Applicants should address as many of the following as relevant:
- Enhances safety for LGBTQ+ students and staff.
- Encourages participation of LGBTQ+ students who are ethnic minorities.
- Promotes schoolwide visibility and normalization of LGBTQIA+ identities.
- Raises understanding of gender identity.
- Increases awareness of the broader LGBTQ+ community.
- Highlights intersectionality with racial equity.

Essay prompt: In narrative form, describe how this grant would affect your students and the wider school community. Identify the needs the funding would meet (for example, specific barriers the money would remove) and any distinctive characteristics of your student population or school the committee should consider.

GRANT EXAMPLES
Possible uses include, but are not limited to:
1. Student-led projects or presentations in public schools, community colleges, or four-year institutions that support LGBTQ+ inclusion.
2. CTA members organizing LGBTQ+-focused activities or presentations for students at public schools.
3. Gay–Straight Alliances (GSAs) or similar groups conducting events or activities (plays, field trips, supplies, meetings, movie nights, food, etc.) that promote safety and inclusion.
4. Seed funding to start or restart a GSA or LGBTQ+ advocacy group.

Reconciliation requirement: Each grant recipient must complete and submit a Reconciliation Form documenting how the funds were spent. Failure to submit by the required deadline will render the recipient ineligible for future awards.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Purpose: Scholarships support self-identified LGBTQ+ CTA or CTA-AE members who are enrolled (or will be enrolled) in a teacher or counseling credential program or a graduate (non-administrative) program and who intend to pursue careers in public education. The program recognizes the importance of LGBTQ+ educators serving as role models in public schools.

SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be a self-identified LGBTQ+ active CTA or CTA-AE member.

SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA AND APPLICATION MATERIALS
Applicants must provide proof of current or impending enrollment in a non-administrative credential or graduate program (e.g., transcript, enrollment verification).

The essay should describe relevant experience and/or your personal philosophy that serves the LGBTQ+ public school community, addressing as many of these points as possible:
- How your planned course of study will positively affect student safety in schools and contribute to the LGBTQ+ education community.
- Your understanding of the importance of LGBTQ+ role models in schools.
- Ways you will help make school environments safer for LGBTQ+ students.
- Past and intended involvement in LGBTQ+ educational or advocacy efforts.
- The significance of role models for LGBTQ+ students who are ethnic minorities.

APPLICATION REVIEW AND APPROVAL
The Grant and Scholarship Committee evaluates submissions and forwards recommended recipients to the CTA Board of Directors for final approval.

For questions about the program or the application process, contact the CTA office administering the grant and scholarship program.