The Local Solutions Grant Program provides funding to develop and implement new, or expand existing, locally-identified solutions that address a local need for special education teachers.

Grant program funding may be used for local efforts to recruit, prepare, develop support systems for, and retain special education teachers that include, but are not limited to, teacher service scholarships, student debt payment, living stipends for newly credentialed teachers who earned an education specialist credential, recruitment of former special education or other teachers who may be interested in working as special education teachers, signing bonuses for newly credentialed teachers who earn an education specialist credential, service awards, mentors for existing teachers, professional learning communities, teacher career pathways or other solutions that address a local need for special education teachers.

Eligible applicants for the Local Solutions Grants Program are school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and regional occupational centers or programs operated by a joint powers authority. Eligible applicants must have a CD/CDS code issued by the California Department of Education (CDE).