Chico State's School of Education was awarded an $8.5 million grant to establish a new residency program. The Belong, Engage, Support, Transform Teachers Residency Program, also known as the BEST program, aims to place the next generation of teachers in rural elementary schools in our area. The U.S. Department of Education awarded Chico State the grant to develop the BEST program. Each student enrolled in the program will receive a living stipend of about $50,000 per year while in their year-long residency in a high-need school. That includes districts like Palermo, Thermalito, Los Molinos and Corning.