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Georgia Professional Standards Commission Meeting Report - March 2026

  • 18 hours ago
  • 2 min read

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) held virtual committee meetings March 11 and a full commission meeting March 12.

GaPSC Releases Recommendations to

Strengthen Educator Workforce


Student teaching provides vital training and experience, but it can also present unique financial burdens. In late 2025, The GaPSC recommended the creation of pilot program to pay student teachers.


HB 310, by Rep. Phil Olaleye (D-Atlanta), would create a pilot program to provide a limited number of grants to support student teachers while collecting data to help make the case for an expanded and more permanent program. While it easily passed the House, the bill still needs to pass the Senate and receive funding in the FY 2027 budget.


Please reach out to legislators express support for HB 310 and student teachers.



Executive Secretary Update

GaPSC Executive Secretary Jody Barrow provided the commission with a 2026 legislative session update. He specifically noted pending literacy legislation and additional requirements the bills would place on the GaPSC. Barrow reported that funding for additional staff has been requested to meet these requirements. He also shared that many recommendations from the SR 237 report have been incorporated into legislation intended to strengthen Georgia’s educator workforce.


Barrow also noted that the Teacher Pipeline Summit will take place April 23 at Fort Valley State University.

 

Rules

The commission adopted the following rule changes:



All newly adopted rules will become effective April 15, 2026.


The commission also voted to initiate several new rule changes which will soon be posted here for public comment.


Educator Preparation & Certification


The commission took the following actions based on progress reports for two Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs):


Bibb County School District

  • Reclassifies Standard 5 from not met to met

  • AFIs in Standard 1.1 for the Gifted In-field, Reading, and Teacher Support and Coaching Endorsements remain

  • New progress report due Sept. 11, 2026


West Georgia RESA

  • AFIs in Standard 1.3 for the Computer Science Endorsement remain

  • AFIs in Standard 1.4 remain for the Computer Science, Dyslexia, ESOL, and Reading Endorsements remain

  • AFIs in Standard 5.1 and Standard 5.4 remain

  • New progress report due March 11, 2027


The commission also granted Developmental Approval of the STEAM Endorsement for the University of North Georgia.


Finally the commission granted the Educator Preparation & Certification Committee's request to defer the following approval reviews:


  • Augusta University

  • Berry College

  • Bibb County School District

  • Clarke County School District

  • Clayton State University

  • Coastal Plains RESA

  • Columbus State University

  • Fort Valley State University

  • Georgia State University

  • Muscogee County School District

  • South Georgia State College

  • Truett McConnell University

  • Wesleyan College



Ethics

The Educator Ethics Review Committee (EERC) consent agenda was approved, with no cases pulled for discussion.



Next Meeting


The next committee meetings are virtual April 8, 2026.

 

The next commission meeting is virtual April 9, 2026.

 

The full calendar of 2025-2026 GaPSC meetings can be found HERE. 


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