Georgia Professional Standards Commission Meeting Report - December 2025
- Robert Aycock
- Dec 19
- 4 min read
The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) met virtually Dec. 11 and 12.
GaPSC Releases Recommendations toStrengthen Educator Workforce |
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Per the requirements of SR 237, the GaPSC has released its Strategic Plan for strengthening the state’s educator workforce. The document summarizes the work of the Georgia Roundtable for Strategic Educator Recruitment and Retention and provides several legislative recommendations for the 2026 Legislative Session. The strategic plan also outlines longer-term goals aimed at making Georgia the top state for the education profession by 2045. Please click on the link to view the full document.
PAGE served on the Roundtable and heavily engaged in creation of the strategic plan. Learn more in the “Joint Meeting to Discuss Educator Workforce Recommendations and Literacy Coaches” report linked at the bottom of this message. |
Executive Secretary Update
GaPSC Executive Secretary Jody Barrow welcomed Stephanie Rogers, who had been recently appointed as a commissioner to the GaPSC.
Barrow stated that work related to SR 237 has been completed. A strategic plan and set of recommendations for strengthening the educator workforce were submitted to the General Assembly and Gov. Brian Kemp on Dec. 1. Barrow thanked all those who had worked on the project. More details will be shared during the January meeting.
The GaPSC continues to work on the issue of technology and AI in the classroom. Barrow made a presentation on the subject of AI policies in schools to the Senate Study Committee on the Impact of Social Media and AI on Children and Platform Privacy Protection on Nov. 12. A GaPSC committee is also reviewing a number of related technology issues with a specific focus on screen time in a school setting. The Educator Preparation Division has established a task force to develop an endorsement focused on AI use by educators.
The GaPSC held the 2025 Annual Certification and Program Officials Conference on Dec. 4 and 5. Barrow thanked everyone who took part in the conference.
Finally, Barrow stated that a new advisory council has been established, aimed at reviewing the foundational educator preparation rule.. The task force will include program providers who will meet with the goal of amending the rule once per year.
Rules
The commission approved the following rule changes that had been originally initiated during the September meeting:
Certification Rules
Educator Preparation Rules
All the newly adopted rules will become effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Educator Preparation & Certification
The commission granted Toccoa Falls College Continuing Approval for the Educator Preparation Provider and the following programs:
· Biology Education (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
· Elementary Education (P-5) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
· English (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
· English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) [Endorsement]
· History (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
· Mathematics Education (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
· Middle Grades (4-8) -- Language arts, Math, Science, Social science [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
· Music (P-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
· Reading Endorsement
Toccoa College is also to submit a progress report by Dec. 10, 2026, addressing all areas for improvement (AFIs) cited during the Fall 2025 Continuing Approval Review.
The commission also granted Middle Georgia State University's request for a one-year deferral of the Fall 2026 Continuing Approval Review so that it will now be due in fall 2027.
Ethics
The commission approved all recommendations for ethics cases on the agenda. No ethics cases were pulled for discussion.
The Educator Ethics Review Committee (EERC) discussed and voted on the following case on Wednesday, Dec. 10:
A special education teacher chaperoned a field trip/sporting event out of town. They packed medications for two different students. One student requested his medication, and the educator allegedly told him to retrieve it. The student mistakenly took the other student’s medication. The student received medical attention before any serious adverse effects occurred. The situation came to light, and the educator resigned. The EERC voted that there was probable cause to recommend a suspension of three days.
 | Next MeetingThe next committee meetings are virtual Jan. 7, 2026.
The next commission meeting is virtual Jan. 8. 2026.
The full calendar of 2025-2026 GaPSC meetings can be found HERE. |