Senate Resolution 545
By: Senators Kemp of the 38th, Esteves of the 35th, Sims of the 12th, Jones II of the 22nd,
Jackson of the 41st and others
ADOPTED SENATE
A RESOLUTION
Creating the Senate Paid Student Teaching Study Committee; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, student teaching in Georgia currently requires aspiring educators to work more
than 40 hours per week in public school classrooms without pay, while simultaneously
paying tuition and covering living expenses, creating significant financial hardship and
feelings of burnout; and
WHEREAS, this uncompensated labor creates a barrier for students from low and middle
income backgrounds, limiting access to the teaching profession and exacerbating the shortage
of new educators in Georgia's education workforce; and
WHEREAS, the growing teacher shortage in Georgia, compounded by high attrition rates
and decreased enrollment in traditional educator preparation programs, requires urgent and
sustainable policy solutions, including compensation during student teaching to support
recruitment and retention; and
WHEREAS, other states have launched successful paid student teaching initiatives, and
Georgia currently has the fiscal capacity to explore this investment with unallocated surplus
funds available in the state budget; and
WHEREAS, study is needed to examine the feasibility, benefits, and fiscal implications of
providing compensation to student teachers in Georgia, including, but not limited to, the
study of:
(1) The financial and logistical challenges faced by student teachers;
(2) The impact of unpaid student teaching on the recruitment and retention of educators,
particularly in high-need and rural schools and school systems;
(3) The relationship between paid internships and teacher preparedness, diversity, and
performance;
(4) Cost estimates and funding mechanisms for implementing a state-wide paid student
teaching program; and
(5) Best practices from other states and pilot programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:
(1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Paid Student
Teaching Study Committee.
(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of six members. Four
members shall be members of the Senate appointed by the Senate majority caucus leader
and two members shall be members of the Senate appointed by Senate minority caucus
leader. The President of the Senate shall designate a legislative member of the committee
as chairperson of the committee.
(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,
issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or
legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.
(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee
may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or
convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and
accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.
(5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive
the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any
member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized.
Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds
appropriated to the Senate.
(6) Report.
(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that
include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the
same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.
(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for
proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)
of this paragraph.
(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of
abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.
A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with
the Secretary of the Senate.
(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary
of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.