SR237: SR237 Professional Standards Commission; provide recommendations to support the state's K-12 education workforce and teacher and school leader pipeline; urge

Georgia has been facing teacher shortages and struggles to retain experienced educators in early childhood and K-12 schools. This resolution does not change any law directly. Instead, it urges the Professional Standards Commission to lead a collaborative effort with the Department of Education, the Department of Early Care and Learning, the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, the Office of Student Achievement, the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission, along with education associations. The resolution asks these groups to study and recommend ways to attract new teachers, track graduate outcomes from teacher education programs, explore student teacher pay and reinstating HOPE scholarship access for teacher candidates, promote awareness of teaching career benefits like the Teachers Retirement System, and build mentorship and retention programs. The Commission is asked to submit recommendations, along with any proposed legislation or budget changes, to the Governor and to the Senate no later than December 1, 2025.

• Urges the Professional Standards Commission to lead a collaborative effort with multiple state education agencies and education associations to study the K-12 teacher pipeline.
• Directs that recommendations address innovative entry pathways into teaching, such as apprenticeships and 'tutors to teachers' programs.
• Calls for collecting and reviewing data on teacher education program graduates, including placement and retention rates after one, three, five, and ten years.
• Asks for exploration of student teacher compensation and reinstating HOPE scholarship access to support the teacher workforce.
• Requests recommendations on teacher and school leader retention strategies, including mentorship programs and professional development.
• Sets a deadline of December 1, 2025 for the Commission to submit recommendations and any proposed legislation or budget changes to the Senate.

The Professional Standards Commission, the Department of Education, the Department of Early Care and Learning, the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, the Office of Student Achievement, the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission, along with current and prospective K-12 teachers and school leaders in Georgia.

If these agencies follow through, Georgia could see new proposals affecting how teachers are recruited, trained, paid as student teachers, and retained, potentially including changes to HOPE scholarship access and mentorship programs, though the resolution itself creates no binding requirements or funding.

• Paragraph (1) urges the Professional Standards Commission to lead a collaborative effort with named state agencies and education associations to produce comprehensive recommendations.
• Paragraph (2)(A) asks for recommendations on innovative pathways into teaching, including enhanced student teaching models and apprenticeship programs.
• Paragraph (2)(B) calls for data collection on teacher education graduates' placement, effectiveness, and retention rates over multiple years.
• Paragraph (2)(C) asks for exploration of student teacher compensation funding and reinstating HOPE access for the teacher workforce.
• Paragraph (2)(D) requests efforts to raise public awareness of teaching career benefits, including the Teachers Retirement System.
• Paragraph (2)(E) focuses on teacher and school leader retention strategies, including mentorship and professional development.
• Paragraph (4) sets a submission deadline of December 1, 2025 for recommendations to the Senate, along with any proposed legislation, policy, or budget changes.

1. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
2. 2025-04-02Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2025-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2025-03-21Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
5. 2025-02-21Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2025-02-20Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)Primary sponsor
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)

1. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   53 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 3 absent)

   Adoption By Substitute: Senate Vote #384

• teacher shortage
• K-12 education
• teacher retention
• HOPE scholarship
• education workforce