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AJC.com > Legislature > Georgia Beat > Archives > 2005 > January > 28 > Entry
Master Teacher bill sails through Senate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Successful teachers soon may receive kudos and financial incentives for mentoring less experienced colleagues if a bill moving through the state Legislature becomes law.
The measure cleared its first major hurdle Friday when the state Senate approved it by a vote of 51-0.
“No other state has anything that compares to Gov. Perdue’s proposal for truly excellent teachers,” said Sen. Dan Moody (R-Alpharetta), the bill’s sponsor.
The Georgia Master Teacher bill is the second part of Gov. Sonny Perdue’s education package. If the House gives the measure its stamp of approval, Perdue will appoint a committee of parents, educators and others who would develop appropriate incentives and requirements.
That committee would make recommendations to Georgia’s Professional Standards Commission, the agency that certifies teachers.
Under the legislation, the commission would have to consider, at a minimum, evidence of student achievement and progress.
This most likely would involve teachers whose classes had consistent gains on standardized exams, said Ben Scafidi, education adviser to Perdue.
A teacher who reached “master teacher” status could apply the following year to serve as an academic coach under a program to be developed by the state Department of Education. These teachers could earn a stipend.
An amendment that would have allowed the state to buy professional liability insurance for teachers died before coming up for a vote.
On Thursday, the Senate approved the first part of Perdue’s legislation. That bill would allow all Georgia high school students - including those who attend private, parochial and home schools - to take certain public school classes online.
Staff writer Mary MacDonald contributed to this report.
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