Georgia Professional Standards Commission Meeting Report - January 2026

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) met virtually for committee meetings Jan. 7 and in person at the GaPSC office for the full commission Jan. 8.

GaPSC Releases Recommendations to

Strengthen Educator Workforce

Click for Full Document

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 was 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 shared several updates from the GaPSC staff. Anne Marie Fenton has been named as Director of Educator Ethics, replacing Laurin Vonada, who moved out of state. Kelli Young, longtime director of certification at GaPSC, has retired. Young is assisting GaPSC in its search for a new director of certification and in other special projects.

Mark Hoffman's term as a commissioner ended, and GaPSC is seeking to fill his seat. Hoffman represented the private sector on the commission, and his replacement will also be from the private sector.

Barrow announced the second annual Education Preparation Provider (EPP) summit coming up in April.

Rules

The commission approved initiating several rule changes. The rules will be open for public comment HERE on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The full amended rules will be available for review at that time.

The proposed amended rules are:

505-3-.44 - Art Education

505-3-.45 - Dance Education

505-3-.46 - Drama Education

505-3-.50 - Music Education

505-3-.78 - Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Leadership Tier I

505-3-.79 - Teacher Leadership and Educational Leadership Tier I

Educator Preparation & Certification

The commission granted Continuing Approval to Floyd County Schools for the following endorsement programs:

• ESOL Endorsement

• Gifted In-Field Endorsement

• K-5 Math Endorsement

• Online Teaching Endorsement

• Reading Endorsement

The commission granted Continuing Approval for Mercer University for the following educator preparation programs:

• Autism Endorsement

• Biology (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• Birth through Kindergarten (B-K) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• Chemistry (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• Coaching Endorsement

• Computer Science (P-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• Computer Science Endorsement

• Curriculum and Instruction (P-12) [Doctoral degree]

• Dyslexia Endorsement

• Educational Leadership Tier I (P-12) [Certification-only; Master's degree]

• Educational Leadership Tier II (P-12) [Certification-only; Education Specialist degree; Doctoral degree]

• Elementary Education (P-5) [Certification-only; Master’s of Arts in Teaching degree]

• English (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• ESOL Endorsement

• Foreign Language (P-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• Gifted Endorsement Program

• Health and Physical Education (P-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• History (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• K-5 Math Endorsement

• K-5 Science Endorsement

• Mathematics (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• Middle Grades (4-8) -- Language arts, Math, Reading, Science, Social science [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• Music (P-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• Online Teaching Endorsement

• Pedagogy-only Program (4-8, 6-12, P-12) [Certification-only; Master’s of Arts in Teaching degree]

• Personalized Learning Endorsement

• Physics (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• Political Science (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• Preschool Special Education Endorsement

• Reading Endorsement

• School Counselor (P-12) [Master's degree]

• Special Education General Curriculum/Elementary Education (P-5) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]

• STEM Education Endorsement

• Teacher Leader (P-12) [Certification-only; Education Specialist degree]

• Teacher Leader Endorsement

The commission granted developmental approval of Fulton County Schools' Gifted In-Field Endorsement.

Ethics

The Educator Ethics Review Committee (EERC) discussed and voted on the following case on Wednesday, Jan. 8:

An educator was seen holding hands with a student at a store. Another student reported the incident, but the educator and reported student both denied the allegation they were holding hands. In addition, the educator had been receiving compensation for private coaching lessons from the family of the same student they were reportedly seen holding hands with, which violates the educator code of ethics, specifically regarding remuneration. The educator admitted to receiving compensation. Commissioners expressed concern with suspending the educator's certificate for one year, the recommended punishment, based on one student reporting the action. However, commissioners agreed the educator should be sanctioned for receiving remuneration. As a result, the educator's certificate was suspended for a shorter period.

The full commission approved the shortened suspension, along with all other cases on the consent agenda, at its in-person meeting on Thursday, Jan. 9.

Next Meeting The next committee meetings are virtual Feb. 11, 2026. The next commission meeting is virtual Feb. 12, 2026. The full calendar of 2025-2026 GaPSC meetings can be found HERE.