California LGBTQ Safety in Schools Scholarships

The LGBTQ+ Safety in Schools Grant and Scholarship Program in Honor of Guy DeRosa was created to promote human and civil rights by making our public schools safe for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning+ persons (LGBTQ+). The program was renamed in 2009 in memory of CTA member and educator Guy DeRosa. Guy was a lifelong advocate for civil and human rights and LGBTQ+ issues.

The grant program will support groups, projects and presentations that promote understanding of and respect for LGBTQ+ persons.

The scholarship program will support self-identified LGBTQ+ active CTA/CTA Aspiring Educators (CTA-AE) members enrolled in a teacher/counseling credential or graduate program who are pursuing a career in public education and who understand the importance of LGBTQ+ educators as role models in our public schools.

Grant and Scholarship Requirements

Applications that do not meet all requirements listed below will not be considered.

• Applicants must submit a complete application.
• If uploading, the grant proposals and scholarship essays must be:
  • Limited to three pages only
  • On 8 ½”  x 11″ paper size
  • 1″ margins
  • Double-spaced
  • 12 pt. Font (Times New Roman)
• Applicants may upload grant project essays/scholarship essays or type them directly into the text box provided.
• Grant proposals must include a budget to be considered.  Submission of a budget allows the committee to understand the allocation of the requested funding.
• Optional:  You may include a short video, PowerPoint, or pictures that must be sent separately to scholarships@cta.org.
• Grant recipients will be asked to submit a Grant Reconciliation Form as well as provide pictures or videos of their events.
• Each grant recipient must fill out a Grant Reconciliation Form listing how the grant money was used. If the recipient does not submit their Grant Reconciliation Form by the deadline, they will not be awarded in the future.
• Grant and scholarship applicants will be notified of their status by the end of July 2025.

Grant Program & Eligibility

The grant program will support groups, projects and presentations that promote understanding of and respect for LGBTQ+ persons. The grant is to be used directly with students. Special consideration will be given to projects that recognize, promote and celebrate ethnic diversity and other diversity among LGBTQ+ youth.

• Students in public schools, community colleges, or four-year universities who implement LGBTQ+ projects and/or presentations.
• CTA members who implement a LGBTQ+ project/presentation at a public school for students and/or employees.
• LGBTQ+ groups such as Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) that implement project activities and/or presentations that promote a safe public school environment for all LGBTQ+ persons.
• Funds to start up or re-establish a GSA or LGBTQ+ advocacy group.

Grants of up to $2,500 will be made available annually to awardees.

Applicants must be:

• An active CTA/CTA Aspiring Educators (CTA-AE) member, or
• A public school student(s) sponsored by an active CTA/CTA Aspiring Educators (CTA-AE) member.

The grant cannot be used for individual/group release time or stipends. Autonomous groups, Service Center Councils, UniServs and CTA Caucuses are not eligible.

Scholarship Program & Criteria

The scholarship program will support self-identified LGBTQ+ active CTA/CTA Aspiring Educators (CTA-AE) members enrolled in a teacher/counseling credential or graduate program who are pursuing a career in public education and who understand the importance of LGBTQ+ educators as role models in our public schools.

Criteria:

• Proof that you are currently enrolled or that you will be enrolled in an educational non-administrative credential or graduate program.
• Application essays are expected to address any experiences and/or your personal philosophy and the impact of your educational endeavors on the LGBTQ+ public school community. Please incorporate as many of the following criteria as possible:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of LGBTQ+ role models.
  • Making the environment safe for LGBTQ+ students.
  • Your past/intended involvements in the LGBTQ+ education community.
  • Importance of role models for LGBTQ+ BIPOC.