Georgia CommonsHB 310: Student Teacher Promotion Act; enact
Last action March 31, 2026 · Senate Tabled
House Bill 310 would create two new state grant programs for Georgia teacher trainees: one paying student teachers up to $5,000 during training and another paying $2,500 signing bonuses once they start teaching in a public school.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Georgia currently has no dedicated state grant to help college students through the unpaid student-teaching phase of becoming a teacher. House Bill 310, called the Student Teacher Promotion Act, fills in a previously reserved section of Georgia law with two new programs. The Georgia Student Finance Commission would run a student teacher grant program starting July 1, 2026, paying up to 500 student teachers per year as much as $5,000 each in monthly installments, limited to those eligible for federal Pell Grants and in good standing in their training. The State Board of Education would separately run a signing bonus grant program starting January 1, 2027, giving a one-time $2,500 payment to former student teachers who finished their training and completed 30 days as a public school teacher. Both programs end after December 31, 2028, and the whole Act only takes effect if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for it.
What the bill does
- Creates a Georgia Student Finance Commission grant program paying up to $5,000 total to as many as 500 student teachers per year, starting July 1, 2026.
- Requires student teachers to be Pell Grant eligible and in good standing in their training program to qualify for and keep receiving payments.
- Creates a separate State Board of Education signing bonus program paying a one-time $2,500 to former student teachers who complete 30 days as a public school teacher, starting January 1, 2027.
- Requires the Department of Education to publish an application process for the signing bonus program by October 1, 2026.
- Sets a sunset date of December 31, 2028, after which no grants or bonuses under either program can be funded, awarded, or disbursed.
- Makes the entire Act contingent on the General Assembly specifically appropriating funds for these grant programs.
Who it affects
College students enrolled in educator preparation programs at University System of Georgia institutions or eligible private colleges, new teachers who recently started working in Georgia public schools, local school systems and public schools, the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the State Board of Education, and the Professional Standards Commission.
Why it matters
Student teachers currently work unpaid during their training, which can discourage people from entering the profession. This bill would give them monthly stipends and a bonus once hired, potentially easing Georgia's teacher shortage, but only if lawmakers actually fund it in a future budget.
Key provisions
- Section 1 names the bill the 'Student Teacher Promotion Act.'
- Section 2 fills in Code Section 20-2-252 (previously reserved) with definitions of educator preparation provider, student teacher, and the two grant programs.
- Subsection (b) creates the Georgia Student Finance Commission's student teacher grant program, capped at 500 participants a year and $5,000 per person, starting July 1, 2026.
- Subsection (b)(3) limits eligibility to Pell Grant eligible students who are actively in good standing in their student teaching placement.
- Subsection (c) creates the State Board of Education's signing bonus grant program, a one-time $2,500 payment after 30 days of teaching, starting January 1, 2027.
- Subsection (d) sunsets both programs, barring any grants or bonuses after December 31, 2028.
- Subsection (e) and Section 3 make the entire Act contingent on a specific legislative appropriation for these programs before it takes effect.
From the bill
“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.”
“the State Board of Education shall provide for signing bonus grants in the amount of one-time fixed payments of $2,500.00 to individuals who participated in the student teacher grant program”
“This Act shall become effective only if funds are included for such purpose in an appropriations Act making specific reference to the grant programs provided for in this Act”
Status timeline
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
Show full history (10 actions)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Phil Olaleye (D, HD-059)
- Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
- Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)
- Imani Barnes (D, HD-086)
- Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
- Shaw Blackmon (R, HD-146)
- Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
Votes
- House voteFebruary 24, 2026
151 yea, 6 nay (7 not voting, 13 absent)
- Senate voteMarch 31, 2026
39 yea, 10 nay (2 not voting, 3 absent)
Topics
- teacher recruitment
- education funding
- student teachers
- Georgia public schools
- teacher shortage