SB 300: "Student Teacher Promotion Act"; enact

Currently, student teachers in Georgia, college students completing the required classroom training component of their teacher education programs, generally work unpaid. Senate Bill 300, called the Student Teacher Promotion Act, would fill in a previously reserved section of Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-252) to create a grant program aimed at supporting teacher recruitment. Under the bill, the State Board of Education would award grants to public schools and local school systems, which would then pay student teachers directly. If a student teacher's assigned school has not applied for a grant, the student could apply directly to the State Board. Total grant payments to any one student teacher could not exceed $7,500, and schools could pay it out in installments during the training period. The State Board would write rules for the program and could require participating schools to report on it. The Department of Education would have to publish an application process by September 1, 2025.

• Creates a new state grant program paying student teachers up to $7,500 while they complete the required classroom training in their teacher education program.
• Allows public schools and local school systems to apply for grant funds from the State Board of Education, which they then pass on to student teachers.
• Lets a student teacher apply directly to the State Board of Education for funds if their assigned school has not applied for a grant.
• Permits schools to pay grant funds to student teachers in installments over the course of their training.
• Requires the State Board of Education to write rules for the program in consultation with the Board of Regents and the Professional Standards Commission.
• Requires the Department of Education to publish an application process on its website by September 1, 2025.

College and university students in teacher education programs completing student teaching, public schools and local school systems that may apply for and administer the grants, the State Board of Education, the Department of Education, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and the Professional Standards Commission.

Student teaching is typically unpaid, which can make the path to becoming a Georgia teacher harder for people who cannot afford months without income. This bill would give schools state money to pay student teachers directly, potentially easing that financial burden and supporting teacher recruitment.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'Student Teacher Promotion Act.'
• Section 2 fills in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-252 (previously reserved) to define 'student teacher' as a college or university student in an approved teacher education program engaged in student teaching.
• Section 2(b) authorizes the State Board of Education to grant funds to public schools and local school systems, subject to state appropriation, to pay student teachers, capped at $7,500 per student teacher.
• Section 2(c) requires the State Board of Education to establish rules for the program and allows it to set reporting requirements for participating schools.
• Section 2(d) requires the Department of Education to publish an application process and seek applications from schools no later than September 1, 2025.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Emanuel Jones (D, SD-10)Primary sponsor
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-17)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-43)
• Donzella James (D, SD-28)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-55)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-38)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-36)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-15)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-5)
• Freddie Powell Sims (D, SD-12)

• teacher recruitment
• student teaching
• education funding
• K-12 schools