Calstateteach

Writing this on behalf of my husband because I cant believe what Ive seen of this program over the years and this has been the final straw for me. This program is horribly run, director refuses to answer emails or answers months later, causing severe delays in completing the program.

Online platform sounds great but really is confusing, has out of date instructions and is poorly explained. They actually sent out an email to many students telling them theyd be eligible for a credential due to covid, then went back on what they said when submitting the application.

Never sent out an email explaining they made a mistake, just didnt let anyone know until they went to apply, as they were told to do. Unbelievable.

This program purports to prepare teachers but does not complete the task. My initial adviser was misleading regarding my work eligibility for clinical hours eligibility.

Unhelpful advisers, staff, office. Southern California office inexplicably moved from LA to Fresno and moved back, leaving me on hold with Fresno when I have never been to that campus or city.

Materials fee charged to my account in error and only refunded after weeks of emails and phone calls back-and-forth. If the state is looking for a way to worsen the teacher shortage, this program of half-accrediting teachers and saddling them with debt is the ticket.

YOU DO NOT WANT sign up for this super shady program. Trust me, it's awful. Even though CST identifies itself as a "Cal State" program, it is *merely for marketing purposes*. They literally rent an office at Cal State Los Angeles, in King Hall. They are NOT affiliated with Cal State Los Angeles *at all*. Their name is extremely misleading. Dr. Ernest Black is also beyond unhelpful and extremely standoffish. I sincerely urge you to google and read his personal blog, before anything else. In his blog he complains about LAUSD, but he will send you there in a heartbeat. CST is a cash cow for these "so-called" mentors.

This program is all online, which sounds appealing, at first. But you quickly realize that you actually need class time to truly understand the in's and out's of districts and their strict polices. You also need to know that you will not be placed with a stellar teacher, because CST has such a HORRIBLE reputation. The throw you into the classroom, provide little guidance, and use you as free labor. Sadly, I was placed with an awful teacher and my mentor actually said, "Well now you know what not to do." Um, excuse me?

On that note, you're given an advisor, who is more than likely, a very retired teacher. They trick you into thinking you will be placed in an area of your choosing, but because of CST's terrible reputation, you are placed in a disaster school (who doesn't know any better). They also *guarantee* that you will be placed with a teacher who is experienced--but that was absolutely not true. Unfortunately, I was used as "free labor" for a teacher that did not want me in her room. My "advisor" knew of this from week one, but did NOTHING about it.

Cal State Teach is an absolute SCAM. Do not fall for it, like I stupidly did. It's a waste of money and you are actually paying *them* to work for free. I wish I had read a review like this before signing up, but there weren't any reviews about CST at all. Hmm...that should have been a red flag.

**AVOID THIS PROGRAM AT ALL COSTS**

My experience with this shady program has been horrible! They are incompetent, and their administrative mistakes have cost me dearly, both financially and time-wise.

They are out to get money and will milk students to get it. I have a disability covered by the ADA, and they refused to give me an accommodation, which resulted in them failing an ENTIRE semester for me. I had to take the semester over again, which equaled more tuition for them.

I can give a dozen more examples, but overall, every step of the way, this program has been a nightmare. Avoid at all costs.

My instructor was abusive, unethical, and other staff that now does grant writing for Cal State Teach was unavailable and unconcerned. When I brought my concerns to the table, the racist instructor manipulated the situation to stick me with nearly 10k in loans.

This is a fast way for people to take advantage of working students and to abuse their power. It's unfortunate not all the professors are unethical or abusive, but overall the program is a hooks that promises to offer an education and guidance that doesn't exist. Professors have never been professors. If you look at the reviews for Monterrey Bay specifically in the East Bay area, it won't be a surprise to you if your professors that cusses at your students puts another faculty member in charge that shows up with her body parts hanging out in front of your students while the other ones busy being a paid consultant and pre-occupied with saving their job as a consultant for the school they placed you in while making sure you're taken out of the program for reaching out for help over these types of issues.

Yes, it's that bad. When you go before review over it. Staff will tell you your email will end and you'll be trying to make a case while trying to forward thousands of emails from your Cal state account even though they allow this professor to continue alienating and regularily kicking people out of the program and it's not true about the email. I was in good standing when I went through all of this.

They do not have course descriptions so that classes are transferrable, they just call them modules, and tell administrators at other programs that a class name and description is confidential information. These online programs really have nothing to do with Cal State Universities, it was just a greedy way for people with connections to try and retire faster and make millions.

Their faculty that has virtually no contact with students other than a few times a month for an hour at a time while the students teach have never taught at Cal State Universities or taught adults. They are often tenured teachers who have never taught in the school district or area they put students in.

My daughter made a "c" average and flunked out of this confusing and badly run program as she needed a "b" average