Senate Paid Student Teaching Study Committee; create

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tonya Anderson and 16 co-sponsors

Establishes a temporary study committee to evaluate feasibility, costs, and potential policy actions for statewide paid student teaching in Georgia.

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Purpose

SR 545 creates a temporary Senate study committee to examine the feasibility, benefits, and fiscal implications of providing compensation to student teachers in Georgia. The resolution responds to concerns that unpaid student teaching imposes financial hardship, limits access to the profession for low- and middle-income candidates, and contributes to teacher shortages.

Key provisions

Establishes the Senate Paid Student Teaching Study Committee to examine issues related to paid student teaching statewide.

Directs the committee to study specific topics (see section below) and to recommend actions or legislation as appropriate.

Permits committee meetings at times/places the chair deems necessary; chair calls meetings.

Provides legislative member allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28‑1‑8 (not to exceed five days unless additional days authorized).

Requires committee expenses to be paid from funds appropriated to the Senate.

Requires filing of an approved committee report (or minutes if no report is approved) with the Secretary of the Senate.

Abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

Committee composition & procedures

Six-member committee: four senators appointed by the Senate majority caucus leader and two senators appointed by the Senate minority caucus leader.

The President of the Senate designates the chair.

Reports or recommendations require approval by majority vote of a quorum; the chair files approved reports with the Secretary of the Senate.

Topics the committee must study

The resolution explicitly calls for study of:
1. Financial and logistical challenges faced by student teachers.
2. Impact of unpaid student teaching on recruitment and retention—especially in high-need and rural districts.
3. Relationship between paid internships and teacher preparedness, diversity, and performance.
4. Cost estimates and possible funding mechanisms for a statewide paid student‑teaching program.
5. Best practices and lessons from other states and pilot programs.

Who is affected

Current and prospective student teachers in Georgia (particularly low- and middle-income candidates).

Teacher preparation programs, K–12 public schools (especially high-need/rural systems), and state education budget planners.

Legislators and state agencies that would consider any future policy or funding changes based on the committee’s findings.

Potential impact

SR 545 itself does not create paid student-teaching compensation; it authorizes a focused study that could lead to legislative proposals to fund paid student teaching, pilots, or other policy changes intended to improve recruitment, diversity, and retention in Georgia’s educator workforce. The study’s cost estimates and funding options (including potential use of unallocated surplus funds) are central to any resulting proposals.

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