Georgia lawmakers weigh bills to tackle teacher shortage

Although Georgia public schools kept 90% of their educators last year, concerns remain about long-term retention rates with around 6,000 vacancies statewide.

Lawmakers are looking at ways to increase retention rates and reduce the teacher shortage this legislative session, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Here are some pieces of legislation that might impact the shortage.

• House Bill 372, from the 2025 legislative session, would extend a law that allows retired teachers to return to the classroom with a few stipulations.
• Senate Bill 150 would reduce the stipulations of the current law by eliminating the requirement to serve in a high-need area and reducing the number of years a teacher must have before retirement from 30 to 25.
• House Bill 310 would launch a pilot program to pay 500 student teachers, who are Pell Grant eligible, a stipend while they work.
• Senate Bill 412 would increase teacher’s personal leave days from three days to five days.

Education advocates are also encouraging lawmakers to extend the tax credit program that gives teachers in high-need subject areas or at a rural or low-performing school a $3,000 tax credit. The current legislation expires in 2026, according to the AJC.