SB300: SB300 "Student Teacher Promotion Act"; enact

25 LC 61 0169 Senate Bill 300 By: Senators Jones of the 10th, Davenport of the 17th, Anderson of the 43rd, James of the 28th, Mangham of the 55th and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 9 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Of ficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to grants for educational programs, so as t o establish a program to2 support recruitment of teachers by providing grant funds to be paid by public schools to3 student teachers participating in the required student teaching component of their teacher4 education programs; to provide for applications for grants; to provide for maximum5 payments; to require the State Board of Education to establish rules and regulations to6 implement the program; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for7 related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9 SECTION 1.10 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Student Teacher Promotion Act."11 SECTION 2.12 Part 9 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,13 relating to grants for educational programs, is amended by revising Code Section 20-2-252,14 which is reserved, as follows:15 S. B. 300 - 1 - 25 LC 61 0169 "20-2-252.16 (a) As used in this Code section, the term 'student teacher' means a college or university17 student in a teacher education program approved by the Professi onal Standards18 Commission in an institution of the University System of Georgi a or in a private19 postsecondary institution who, as part of such teacher educatio n program, is engaged in20 student teaching.21 (b)(1) The State Board of Education shall provide public schoo ls and local school22 systems with grants, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and pursuant to23 applications made by such public schools and local school syste ms. A student teacher24 who is assigned to a school that has not applied for a grant shall be permitted to apply for25 grant funds directly with the State Board of Education. The purpose of such grants shall26 be to support recruitment of teachers by providing grant funds to be paid by such public27 schools and local school systems to student teachers who partic ipate in the student28 teaching component of their teacher education program with such public school or local29 school system.30 (2) The total amount of such grant funds paid to each student teacher shall not exceed31 $7,500.00. The public schools or local school systems receivin g such grants from the32 State Board of Education may expend grant funds only for purposes of providing for the33 payment of grant funds to student teachers who are actively engaged and in good standing34 in the student teaching component of their teacher education program with such public35 school or local school system. Public schools and local school systems shall be36 authorized to make payments of grant funds to such student teac hers in installments37 during the student teaching component of their teacher education programs.38 (c)(1) The State Board of Education, in consultation with public schools and local school39 systems, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and the Professional40 Standards Commission, shall establish rules and regulations to implement the provisions41 of this Code section.42 S. B. 300 - 2 - 25 LC 61 0169 (2) The State Board of Education shall be authorized to establish reporting requirements43 on the public schools and local school systems participating in the grant program.44 (d) The Department of Education shall develop and publish on i ts public website an45 application process and seek applications from public schools and local school systems for46 the grant program no later than September 1, 2025. Reserved."47 SECTION 3.48 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.49 S. B. 300 - 3 -