Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia SR545: Senate Paid Student Teaching Study Committee; create
Status: Passed both chambers, March 31, 2026
A RESOLUTION creating the Senate Paid Student Teaching Study Committee; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
A resolution Creating the Senate Paid Student Teaching Study Committee; and for other purposes.
From the introduced text:
A RESOLUTION Creating the Senate Paid Student Teaching Study Committee; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, student teaching in Georgia currently requires aspiring educators to work more than 40 hours per week in public school classrooms without pay, while simultaneously paying tuition and covering living expenses, creating significant financial hardship and feelings of burnout; and WHEREAS, this uncompensated labor creates a barrier for students from low and middle income backgrounds, limiting access to the teaching profession and exacerbating the shortage of new educators in Georgia's education workforce; and WHEREAS, the growing teacher shortage in Georgia, compounded by high attrition rates and decreased enrollment in traditional educator preparation programs, requires urgent and sustainable policy solutions, including compensation during student teaching to support recruitment and retention; and WHEREAS, other states have launched successful paid student teaching initiatives, and Georgia currently has the fiscal capacity to explore this investment with unallocated surplus funds available in the state budget; and S. R. LC 61 0512S (SCS) WHEREAS, study is needed to examine the feasibility, benefits, and fiscal implications of providing compensation to student teachers in Georgia, including, but not limited to, the study (2) The impact of unpaid student teaching on the recruitment and retention of educators, particularly in high-need and rural schools and school systems; (3) The relationship between paid internships and teacher preparedness, …
Sponsors
- RaShaun Kemp (D, 38) · primary sponsor
- Jason Esteves (D, 35)
- Freddie Sims (D, 12)
- Jones II, Harold (D)
- Kim Jackson (D, 41)
- Sally Harrell (D, 40)
- Derek Mallow (D, 2)
- Kenya Wicks (D, 34)
- Gail Davenport (D, 17)
- McLaurin, Josh (D, 14)
- Nikki Merritt (D, 9)
- Donzella James (D, 28)
Latest actions
- : Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- : Senate Third Read
- : Senate Read Second Time
- : Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- : Senate Read and Referred
- : Senate Hopper
Common questions
- What is SR545?
- SR545 is a bill in the Georgia Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Senate Paid Student Teaching Study Committee; create.
- What does SR545 do?
- In its own words: A resolution Creating the Senate Paid Student Teaching Study Committee; and for other purposes.
- What is the status of SR545?
- Passed both chambers as of March 31, 2026. Latest action: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (March 31, 2026).
- Who sponsored SR545?
- RaShaun Kemp (D, 38), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SR545?
- On the Georgia Legislature website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71987
Source: official Georgia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.