San Bernardino County outlines Grow Within teacher‑pipeline program; staff say grants have funded hundreds of local educator pathways

San Bernardino County human resources staff presented a multi‑year update on Grow Within — an HR‑led set of grant programs and partnerships intended to convert classified staff into credentialed teachers and otherwise build local educator pipelines. The county said Grow Within has secured competitive state funding and local funding streams and that the program pairs financial incentives with wrap‑around supports to help paraeducators and classified staff pursue bachelor’s degrees, credentials and residency placements. Why it matters: County and district staffing shortages statewide have prompted investments in “grow‑your‑own” programs. The board heard detailed enrollment, funding and outcome figures and asked staff for additional budgetary breakdowns. Key numbers and structure provided by staff - Total awarded and available funding: staff said SBCSS had secured roughly $13,000,000 in combined competitive state grants and local opportunities. The classified employee grant award cited was $5,000,000; staff said they are on track to expend that award by June 30, 2026. (Presentation, July 14.) - Participation and outcomes: staff reported 664 unduplicated participants since 2022–23, 59 participants who have earned preliminary credentials, 43 participants currently teaching, 59 bachelor’s degrees completed and 346 participants actively on track toward credentialing. (Presentation, July 14.) - Partners: Grow Within includes 19 consortium districts out of 33 in the county, 32 institutions of higher education, 4 county offices of education, and labor partners including the San Bernardino County Teachers Association, Teamsters and CSEA chapters. Staff said the program reaches schools serving roughly 400,000 students across the county. (Presentation, July 14.) Program elements described - Classified Employee Grant: State funding intended to help classified employees transition to certificated roles. Staff described a living stipend (up to $4,320 per fiscal year per participant), eligibility requirements, and a 5‑year maximum participation window for individuals. Staff said universities used in the program must be California‑based non‑profits. (Presentation, July 14.) - Teacher Residency Grant: SBCSS described a model residency in partnership with Claremont Graduate University that offers a $31,700 stipend for resident teachers and a $3,000 stipend for mentor teachers during the residency year; residents receive most of their paraeducator pay and benefits while completing an 18‑month master’s/preliminary credential sequence and commit to service requirements. (Presentation, July 14.) Board questions and follow‑up requests Board members asked technical questions about past funding, slot allocations and administrative costs. One trustee asked how earlier cohorts were paid before the larger state awards were available; staff explained the state reimburses prior‑year spending under the grant model and that early awards were smaller. A trustee requested a follow‑up breakdown showing how much of the awarded funding supports participants directly versus program administration. Staff said they would provide additional detail in a follow‑up correspondence. What was not resolved Staff said they expect a final round of state classified‑grant competition and that they will evaluate whether to compete for additional slots. The board did not vote on new funding at the meeting; staff presented results and sought board feedback.