Could these proposals shore up Georgia’s teacher workforce? Lawmakers hope so.
Georgia has a decent teacher retention rate. Statewide, public schools kept 90% of their educators during 2025. However, the state still had about 6,000 vacancies, according to an audit.
There have been warning signs that retaining teachers, especially new ones, could get harder. A 2015 report from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, the agency that certifies teachers, said 44% of the state’s educators leave the profession within five years. A state task force on teacher burnout found unrealistic expectations and an abundance of testing were among the top reasons for leaving. A Senate resolution passed last year directed the PSC to work with other organizations to develop a strategic plan to recruit and retain teachers.
Here are some of the proposals lawmakers are now considering as a result of that plan:
Making it easier to ‘return to work’
Current law allows retired teachers to return to the classroom while collecting retirement benefits, with some conditions. Those include waiting 12 months after retiring before coming back, having completed 30 years of teaching before retiring and accepting a position in a high-need area. That statute expires this year.
A House bill introduced last year would extend the law to the year 2030 and would scrap the requirement for teachers to accept positions in high-need areas. The Senate has approved a different bill that goes further. In addition to getting rid of that requirement, Senate Bill 150 would change the number of years a teacher had to serve before retiring from 30 to 25. The average number of years teachers serve before retiring is 25.5.
Paying student teachers
Teacher training programs at colleges and universities usually require at least a semester-long internship known as “student teaching.” The college student performs the duties of a full-time teacher under the supervision of the regular classroom instructor. Because of the demands of most programs, it’s difficult for student teachers to hold down paying jobs.
A bipartisan House bill would create a pilot program for 500 Pell Grant-eligible student teachers. Participants would earn up to $5,000 during their student teaching semester and could earn a signing bonus of $2,500 if they accept a job at a Georgia school afterward. The House Education Committee passed the bill, setting it up for a vote on the House floor soon.
Increasing personal leave days
Currently, Georgia teachers typically get 12 paid leave days a year, nine sick days and three personal or professional leave days. A Senate bill would increase the number of personal use days to five. The Senate’s Education and Youth Committee said “yes” to the bill last month.
Extending a tax credit for teachers
A 2021 law gives teachers a $3,000 tax credit if they accept a job in a high-need subject area, at a rural school or a school that doesn’t perform well on state tests. The Georgia Department of Education publishes a list of 100 qualifying schools each year. Teachers can receive the credit for five consecutive years. Education advocates are urging lawmakers to extend the tax credit program, which expires at the end of 2026.
About the Author
Martha Dalton is a journalist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, writing about K-12 education. She was previously a senior education reporter at WABE, Atlanta's NPR affiliate. Before that, she was a general assignment reporter at CNN Radio. Martha has worked in media for more than 20 years. She taught elementary school in a previous life.
