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Senate Resolution 545
By: Senators Kemp of the 38th, Esteves of the 35th, Sims of the 12th, Jones II of the 22nd,
Jackson of the 41st and others
A RESOLUTION
Creating the Senate Paid Student Teaching Study Committee; and for other purposes.
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WHEREAS, student teaching in Georgia currently requires aspiring educators to work more2
than 40 hours per week in public school classrooms without pay, while simultaneously3
paying tuition and covering living expenses, creating significant financial hardship and4
feelings of burnout; and5
WHEREAS, this uncompensated labor creates a barrier for students from low and middle6
income backgrounds, limiting access to the teaching profession and exacerbating the shortage7
of new educators in Georgia's education workforce; and8
WHEREAS, the growing teacher shortage in Georgia, compounded by high attrition rates9
and decreased enrollment in traditional educator preparation programs, requires urgent and10
sustainable policy solutions, including compensation during student teaching to support11
recruitment and retention; and12
WHEREAS, other states have launched successful paid student teaching initiatives, and13
Georgia currently has the fiscal capacity to explore this investment with unallocated surplus14
funds available in the state budget; and15
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WHEREAS, study is needed to examine the feasibility, benefits, and fiscal implications of
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providing compensation to student teachers in Georgia, including, but not limited to, the17
study of:18
(1) The financial and logistical challenges faced by student teachers;19
(2) The impact of unpaid student teaching on the recruitment and retention of educators,20
particularly in high-need and rural schools and school systems;21
(3) The relationship between paid internships and teacher preparedness, diversity, and22
performance;23
(4) Cost estimates and funding mechanisms for implementing a state-wide paid student24
teaching program; and25
(5) Best practices from other states and pilot programs.26
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:27
(1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Paid Student28
Teaching Study Committee.29
(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of six members. Four30
members shall be members of the Senate appointed by the Senate majority caucus leader31
and two members shall be members of the Senate appointed by Senate minority caucus32
leader. The President of the Senate shall designate a legislative member of the committee33
as chairperson of the committee.34
(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,35
issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or36
legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.37
(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee38
may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or39
convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and40
accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.41
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(5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive
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the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia43
Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any44
member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. 45
Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds46
appropriated to the Senate.47
(6) Report.48
(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that49
include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the50
same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to51
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.52
(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for53
proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)54
of this paragraph.55
(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of56
abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.57
A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with58
the Secretary of the Senate.59
(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary60
of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.61
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.62
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