Georgia Incentives & Rewards

The Georgia General Assembly passed legislation which is supportive of and offers incentives to teachers who choose to become National Board Certified. The 2005 session of the Georgia Legislature passed the following:

For initial national certification on and after July 1, 2006, and subsequent renewals anytime thereafter,

  1. Any person who:

    1. Is currently teaching full time in a high-needs school and holds a valid Georgia teaching certificate as defined by the Professional Standards Commission; and

    2. Has successfully completed the prerequisite portfolio of student work and examination and has received national certification shall receive not less than a 10 percent rate increase in state salary for each year he or she holds national certification. Such increase shall be awarded beginning on the date such certification is received. The 10 percent increase shall be computed based on the state salary for such individual when national certification is received. A teacher who transfers to a high-needs school after such individual receives national certification shall receive such increase beginning on the effective date of transfer if the teacher meets the requirements of this subsection, and such increase shall be computed based on the state salary for such individual on the effective date of the transfer. Provided such individual remains employed in a high-needs school or in a school that was designated as a high-needs school at the time the individual received national certification or transferred to such school and otherwise continues to meet the requirements of this subsection, the 10 percent increase shall be recomputed each subsequent year based on such individual’s state salary for that school year.

  2. A teacher shall be granted two days of approved paid leave to prepare the portfolio of student work required for national certification.

  3. The Professional Standards Commission shall provide annually to the Department of Education a roster of teachers who have attained and retained national certification and are eligible for the annual increase.

  4. The Professional Standards Commission shall be authorized to accept, receive, distribute, and administer funds to be used for national certification program participation fees.

For more information, please go to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission web site at www.gapsc.com.