Haseya Teacher Preparation

Haseya Participant Information & Frequently Asked Questions

Haseya Application Form

Learn more about CGU’s Preliminary K12 Teaching Credential Program

Apply to CGU’s Preliminary K12 Teacher Credentialing Program

Haseya means “to rise up” in Navajo.

Claremont Graduate University (CGU) and the Navajo Nation recognize the critical importance of highly effective Native American teachers working in K-12 schools serving Native American students—and how rarely this happens.

Therefore, in partnership, CGU and the Navajo Nation sought and were awarded funding from the Office of Indian Education’s Professional Development Program to support Haseya Teacher Preparation (herein called Haseya).

Haseya supports selected Native Americans with a generous support package to help them earn a California preliminary K-12 teaching credential and master’s in education.  It also provides them with new teacher mentorship to ensure that they are ushered into the profession as transformational educators.  Our goal is for Haseya participants to develop into highly effective teachers prepared to promote educational excellence in their communities.

Apply now!

Haseya is currently accepting applications for candidates to start classes in January 2026.

There are a limited number of spots available, and it is expected that they will fill quickly. If all spots are not filled by participants in January 2026, a contingency plan is in place for a second cohort to start in July 2026 and, if needed, a third cohort in January 2027.

The deadline to apply for a January 2026 start is January 1, 2026. Admissions are on a rolling basis, so the earlier one applies, the better the chances of being selected.  Don’t wait until the deadline to apply!

Applying is a two-step process: 1) applying to CGU’s Preliminary K12 Teacher Credentialing Program and 2) completing the Haseya Application Form.

Some of the support provided through Haseya:

  • Tuition and fees to complete Claremont Graduate University’s preliminary teacher credential and master’s in education program in either 13-18 months
  • Student health care coverage
  • A $2,300/month living stipend while a full-time student for up to 12 months
  • A one-time technology stipend
  • Travel funds for participants living outside of Southern California
  • Two years of post-program job mentorship. (Fellows need not reside in California for this phase of the program.)

As explained in Participant Information & Frequently Asked Questions, in exchange for this support, Haseya participants must be employed after earning their credential as a teacher in a school that serves a higher proportion of Native American students.  This “service/payback agreement” mandates that Haseya teachers work in eligible schools for as many months as they received Haseya support.  The consequences to not meeting this service/payback agreement are explained in Participant Information & Frequently Asked Questions.

Who Can Become a Haseya Participant?

To be a Haseya participant, one needs to:

1. Have a desire to be a K12 teacher in one of the credential areas supported by CGU’s Preliminary K12 Teacher Credential Program: Multiple subject/Elementary, Single subject (English, Math, Science, World Language, or Social Studies); and Special Education (mild/moderate special needs and extensive special needs).

2. Be admitted into CGU’s Preliminary K12 Teacher Credentialing Program. Along with other requirements, applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.

3. Be able to fully participate in CGU’s Preliminary K12 Teacher Credential Program. This mainly involves at least the following notable considerations:

a. Students must have sufficient time and capacity to fully engage and prepare for required activities, including but not limited to:

i. Clinical Residency Placement. Residencies involve 20 hours per week of “in front of kids” instructional time. In addition to these 20 hours, participants need to dedicate time for other activities (preparing lessons, grading, reflecting, meeting with mentor Teacher, mandatory clinical meetings, etc.).  Residencies span an academic K12 school year, typically from mid- or late July through mid- or late June.

ii. Academic Classes. General education candidates complete 36 units of coursework.  Special education candidates complete 38-units.  Synchronous instruction typically happens two to three times during the workweek typically from 5-8 pm PDT/PST.  In addition to class hours, one needs to dedicate time to reading, completing assignments, and reflecting.

iii. Non-class-based activities. There are asynchronous and non-unit-based tasks every term (Fall, Spring, Summer) that require time and attention, including, but not limited to tasks such as CPR training, observation hours, and taking required tests.

b. Students need to reside in or near Claremont, CA, while being a student at CGU. Although academic classes are online, the clinical residency is not.  Students need to be able to travel to/from their clinical residency placement at an assigned residency school (within a 30-mile radius of CGU).  Depending upon how quickly a student is able to demonstrate competencies, the residency can involve one 11-month placement (typically July through June) or a second placement the following school year.

c. Students require sufficient technological skills and equipment (including internet service) to be able to complete synchronous and asynchronous online classes and workshops.

d. Program completion is based upon meeting competencies, not “seat time.” The length of a student’s program is determined by how quickly they can demonstrate competency. The recommended pathway is 18 months (and involves students starting in January).  The most expedited pathway is a 13-month program (that involves students starting in July).  Haseya candidates are given a maximum of 24 months to complete their program.

4. Provide documentation that they, their parent, or their grandparent meet the definition of being “Indian” provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education for the purposes of this project. (See below for details)

5. Be able to successfully obtain TB and Livescan/DOJ/FBI clearances. These clearances are California requirements for teachers.

6. Be confident at the onset of Haseya that they will be able to successfully complete Haseya. Haseya is a multi-year commitment and participants must complete the entire program in order to be considered successful. (Participants are only required to live in California for specific parts of the program.)

7. Sign the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education’s Service/Payback Obligation Agreement.

8. Sign CGU’s MOU for Haseya participants.

These eligibility requirements need to be met/assessed/documented before one is officially named a Haseya participant and before any Haseya funding is distributed.

How is “Indian” defined for the purposes of Haseya?

According to the Office of Indian Education, for the purposes of this program an Indian is an individual who is:

  1. A member of an Indian Tribe or band, as membership is defined by the Indian Tribe or band, including any Tribe or band terminated since 1940, and any Tribe or band recognized by the State in which the Tribe or band resides;
  2. A descendant of a parent or grandparent who meets the requirements of paragraph (1) of this definition;
  3. Considered by the Secretary of the Interior to be an Indian for any purpose;
  4. An Eskimo, Aleut, or other Alaska Native; or
  5. A member of an organized Indian group that received a grant under the Indian Education Act of 1988 as it was in effect on October 19, 1994.

Applicants to Haseya are asked to submit documentation that shows that they are Indian according to the above criteria.

Most people submit copies of a CIB card and/or a certified letter of membership from their tribe.

Types of teaching credentials Haseya participants can earn at CGU

  • Multiple Subject (36-unit program)
  • Single-Subject English (36-unit program)
  • Single-Subject Math (36-unit program)
  • Single-Subject Science (36-unit program)
  • Single-Subject World Language (36-unit program)
  • Single-Subject Social Studies (36-unit program)
  • Special Education – Mild/Moderate Needs (38-unit program)
  • Special Education – Moderate/Severe Needs (38-unit program)

The CGU Difference

Claremont Graduate University’s Department of Teacher Education prepares a special kind of K-12 teacher: one committed to cultivating the achievement of all students. CGU teachers acknowledge that variables like poverty, language fluency, and disabilities are challenges, but they also know that they are not barriers that legitimize a student’s failure or that justify educators lowering their expectations or their own commitment.

We believe the best way to prepare highly effective teachers is to put theory into practice through mentor-guided teaching experiences in real-world settings. Our graduates are highly recruited, get promoted more quickly, and are fast-tracked into leadership positions.

For More Information

Interested parties should read through Participant Information & Frequently Asked Questions.  This comprehensive guide is designed to help prospective and current participants understand the funding, eligibility, expectations, and service/payback requirements associated with Haseya. It explains the forms of support available, eligibility criteria, the application process, and the obligations attached to receiving federal funding through the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education (OIE) for this project.

After reviewing Participant Information & Frequently Asked Questions, parties are encouraged to contact our Haseya leadership team at Haseya@cgu.edu.  We are here to answer questions and guide you through the process.

Upcoming virtual information sessions:

Contact Iveth.Cordon@cgu.edu for more information about the sessions.

New dates will be added for Spring 2026 if there are still slots available.

Request more information about the School of Educational Studies
Admissions Representatives