HB 310 — Student Teacher Promotion Act; enact

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 9 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to grants for educational programs, so as to establish a program to support recruitment of teachers by providing grant funds to be paid by public schools to student teachers participating in the required student teaching component of their teacher education programs; to provide for applications for grants; to provide for maximum payments; to require the State Board of Education to establish rules and regulations to implement the program; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill Text

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This bill amends 1 section(s) of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-252.

• O.C.G.A. § 20-2-252

  Reserved. → art 9 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, lating to grants for educational programs, is amended by revising Code Section 20-2-252, hich is reserved, as follows: 20-2-252." (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'Educator preparation provider' or 'EPP' means an institution of the University System of Georgia or an eligible private postsecondary institution, as such term is defined in Code Section 20-3-519, located in this state that is approved by the Professional Standards Commission to provide for the initial and continuing preparation of educators. (2) 'Signing bonus grant program' mean the program established by the State Board of Education to provide signing bonus grants to student teachers pursuant to this Code section. (3) 'Student teacher' means a college or university student who is enrolled in an educator preparation provider program and who, as part of such program, is engaged in student teaching in a public school in this state. (4) 'Student teacher grant program' mean the program established by the Georgia Student Finance Commission to provide grants to student teachers pursuant to this Code section. (b)(1) The Georgia Student Finance Commission shall establish a program to provide grants to student teachers. The purpose of the student teacher grant program shall be to support recruitment of teachers by providing grant funds to qualifying student teachers during the student teaching component of their EPP program. The Georgia Student Finance Commission shall, in consultation with local school systems and other public schools, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and the Professional Standards Commission, establish such policies, rules, and regulations for the student teacher grant program as are necessary to implement this Code section. LC 49 2630S (2) Beginning July 1, 2026, the Georgia Student Finance Commission shall provide grants to no more than 500 student teachers each school year. The total amount of such grant funds paid to each student teacher shall not exceed $5,000.00. Grant funds awarded by the Georgia Student Finance Commission shall be disbursed to student teachers in monthly installments by their respective EPPs utilizing a consistent practice for the calculation and distribution of installment payments. (3)(A) To qualify for a grant under the student teacher grant program and to receive grant installment payments under such program, a student teacher shall be: (i) Eligible to participate in the federal Pell Grant program; and (ii) Actively engaged and in good standing in the student teaching component of his or her EPP program with the public school or local school system to which he or she is assigned. (B) No individual shall receive more than $5,000.00 under the student teacher grant program. (C) The Georgia Student Finance Commission and each EPP shall be authorized to verify whether an individual is actively engaged and in good standing in the student teaching component of his or her EPP program with the public school or local school system to which he or she is assigned. No individual shall be eligible to receive grant fund installment payments for any installment period for which he or she is determined to not be actively engaged and in good standing in the student teaching component of his or her EPP program with the public school or local school system to which he or she is assigned. (4) The Georgia Professional Standards Commission shall establish reporting requirements for student teachers participating in the student teacher grant program to determine whether and how the teacher vacancy rate in this state has been impacted by the student teacher grant program. LC 49 2630S (c)(1) The State Board of Education shall establish a program to provide grants to former student teachers who begin working as teachers in public schools in this state. The purpose of the signing bonus grant program shall be to support recruitme

  amended

Action History

1. March 31, 2026

   Senate Tabled

2. March 25, 2026

   Senate Read Second Time

3. March 25, 2026

   Senate Committee Favorably Reported

4. February 25, 2026

   Senate Read and Referred

5. February 24, 2026

   House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

6. February 24, 2026

   House Third Readers

7. February 12, 2026

   House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

8. February 11, 2025

   House Second Readers

9. February 10, 2025

   House First Readers

10. February 06, 2025

    House Hopper

Sponsors

• Shaw Blackmon · Cosponsor
• Leesa Hagan · Cosponsor
• Imani Barnes · Cosponsor
• Bethany Ballard · Cosponsor
• Carolyn Hugley · Cosponsor
• Phil Olaleye · Primary

Votes

Subjects