SUMMARY:  LC 49 0351-EC

This is Governor Kemp's teacher pipeline bill designed to help strengthen the teacher workforce. 

The Georgia Teacher of the Year would serve as an ex-officio adviser to the State Board at meetings or public hearings.

It establishes a pathway for veterans to be alternatively certified.  Veterans meeting the requirements would receive a three-year military support provisional certificate to be issues in one-year increments by the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) upon the joint application by a school district and the veteran. The bill lists requirements for the veteran during the three year provisional period to then be eligible for an induction or professional certificate to be issued by the PSC.

Under current law a flexibility contract may include a tiered evaluation system with a reduced number of observations of certain teachers conducted. This bill adds that any district using a tiered evaluation system shall apply resources saved due to the reduced number of observations for evaluators to coach and mentor teachers with three years of experience or less and those with a "Needs Development" or "Ineffective" rating.  The coaching and mentoring may include professional growth plans and remediation plans if they are already required in the evaluation system used to rate the teacher's performance.

As the PSC recommends standards and procedures for preparing teachers to the Board of Regents and private colleges, they should include mandatory coursework in differentiated instruction and instruction in the development of fundamental reading skills.  They should also include programs designed to promote increased student enrollment in and completion of teacher education programs offered at historically black colleges and universities in GA. 

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2021