California LGBTQ Safety in Schools Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by California Teachers Association

Overview
The LGBTQ+ Safety in Schools Grant and Scholarship Program — renamed in 2009 to honor CTA educator and member Guy DeRosa — exists to advance human and civil rights by helping make public schools safer and more welcoming for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning+ (LGBTQ+) students and staff. Guy DeRosa was a lifelong champion of civil and human rights and an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ+ issues.

History and Governance
- The program was renamed in 2009 in memory of Guy DeRosa.
- Administrative authority: The Grant and Scholarship Committee evaluates all applications submitted in response to the program announcement and submits its recommended recipients to the CTA Board of Directors for final approval.
- Policy adoption and updates: Adopted July 2009; amended May 2013, March 2016, and November 2017.

Grant Program — Purpose and Use
The grant portion funds group initiatives, projects, and presentations that foster understanding of and respect for LGBTQ+ individuals. Awards are intended for activities that work directly with students. Projects that highlight and celebrate ethnic diversity and other forms of diversity among LGBTQ+ youth will receive special consideration.

Restricted uses and ineligible applicants
- Grant funds may not be used 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 apply.

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 group sponsored by an active CTA or CTA‑AE member.

Grant Selection Criteria
Application essays should address as many of the following as possible:
- Enhances safety for LGBTQ+ students and school personnel.
- Encourages participation by LGBTQ+ students from ethnic minority backgrounds.
- Promotes schoolwide visibility and normalization of LGBTQIA+ identities.
- Increases awareness and understanding of gender identity.
- Raises awareness and understanding of the broader LGBTQ+ community.
- Addresses intersectionality and racial equity.

Grant Essay Prompt
In a narrative format, explain how this grant would affect your students and the wider school community. Describe the needs the project would meet, specific barriers the funding would remove, and any distinctive characteristics of your student body or school context that the selection committee should consider.

Examples of Funded Activities
Typical grant-supported projects include, but are not limited to:
1. Student-led LGBTQ+ projects or presentations at public schools, community colleges, or four‑year universities.
2. CTA members running LGBTQ+ educational activities for public school students.
3. LGBTQ+ student groups (for example, Gay–Straight Alliances) organizing events and activities that promote safer school climates (plays, field trips, materials, meetings, film nights, food, etc.).
4. Start-up or re-establishment costs for GSAs or other LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.

Post-award Requirement
Each grant recipient must submit a Reconciliation Form detailing how the funds were spent. Failure to submit the Reconciliation Form by the stated deadline will make the recipient ineligible for future awards.

Scholarship Program — Purpose
Scholarships are available to support self-identified LGBTQ+ members of CTA and CTA Aspiring Educators (CTA‑AE) who are enrolled in teacher or counseling credential programs or graduate programs and who intend to pursue careers in public education. The program recognizes the importance of LGBTQ+ educators as role models in public schools.

Scholarship Eligibility
Applicants must be self-identified LGBTQ+ active members of CTA or CTA Aspiring Educators (CTA‑AE).

Scholarship Criteria and Requirements
- Proof of current or upcoming enrollment in a non-administrative credential or graduate program in education (teacher or counseling credential or graduate program) is required.
- Application essays should describe relevant experience and/or personal philosophy that benefit the LGBTQ+ public school community, and should address as many of the following as possible:
- Connect your planned course of study to the anticipated impact on student safety and the LGBTQ+ education community.
- Demonstrate understanding of the importance of LGBTQ+ role models.
- Explain how your work will help make the school environment safer for LGBTQ+ students.
- Describe past or intended involvement in the LGBTQ+ education community.
- Address the significance of role models for LGBTQ+ students from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Award
Grants and scholarships of up to $2,500 are available annually to selected recipients.