HB 310: Student Teacher Promotion Act; enact

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Tabled (Senado)
2. 2026-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senado)
3. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
4. 2026-02-25Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
5. 2026-02-24House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Cámara de Representantes)
6. 2026-02-24House Third Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2026-02-12House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Cámara de Representantes)
8. 2025-02-11House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)

• Phil Olaleye (D, HD-059)Patrocinador principal
• 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)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes24 de febrero de 2026

   151 a favor, 6 en contra (7 sin votar, 13 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #548

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado31 de marzo de 2026

   39 a favor, 10 en contra (2 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Motion To Table Remaining Legislation On The Rules Calendar: Senate Vote #912

• teacher recruitment
• education funding
• student teachers
• Georgia public schools
• teacher shortage