SR545: SR545 Senate Paid Student Teaching Study Committee; create

Georgia currently requires aspiring teachers to complete student teaching, working more than 40 hours a week in public school classrooms, without pay, while still paying tuition and covering living costs. This resolution creates a six member Senate study committee to look into whether the state should compensate student teachers. The committee, made up of four members appointed by the Senate majority caucus leader and two by the minority caucus leader, would study the financial and logistical burden on student teachers, the effect of unpaid student teaching on recruiting and keeping educators (especially in rural and high need schools), the link between paid internships and teacher quality, cost estimates for a statewide paid program, and practices used in other states. The committee can recommend legislation, must report its findings before it is abolished on December 1, 2026, and its funding and member allowances come from money already appropriated to the Senate.

• Creates the Senate Paid Student Teaching Study Committee made up of six Senate members, four chosen by the majority caucus leader and two by the minority caucus leader.
• Directs the committee to study the financial and logistical challenges facing unpaid student teachers in Georgia.
• Requires the committee to examine cost estimates, funding mechanisms, and best practices from other states for a statewide paid student teaching program.
• Lets legislative members collect the standard allowances under O.C.G.A. 28-1-8 for up to five days unless more are approved, paid from existing Senate funds.
• Sets the committee to dissolve on December 1, 2026, after filing a report or meeting minutes with the Secretary of the Senate.

Aspiring teachers completing unpaid student teaching, Georgia's educator preparation programs, public school systems (particularly rural and high need districts), and the state Senate members appointed to serve on the new study committee.

If enacted, this would not pay student teachers itself, but it starts a formal Senate review of whether Georgia should fund a paid student teaching program, which could shape future legislation and budget decisions affecting teacher recruitment and the cost of entering the profession.

• Paragraph 1 creates the Senate Paid Student Teaching Study Committee.
• Paragraph 2 sets committee membership at six senators (four majority, two minority) with the Senate President designating the chairperson.
• Paragraph 3 directs the committee to study related issues and recommend action or legislation as it sees fit.
• Paragraph 5 ties member allowances to O.C.G.A. 28-1-8, capped at five paid days unless additional days are authorized, funded from Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph 6 lays out reporting requirements, including that any report with legislative suggestions must be filed before the committee's abolishment and approved by majority vote of a quorum.
• Paragraph 7 abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
2. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2026-03-27Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2026-03-27Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
5. 2025-04-04Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2025-04-02Senate Hopper (Senate)

• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)Primary sponsor
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

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

   Consent Calendar For Senate Study Committees: Senate Vote #875

• teacher pay
• student teaching
• education workforce
• Georgia Senate study committee
• teacher shortage