Bill Text: GA HB282 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Georgia Master Teacher Program; provide bonus; Distinguished Teacher Leader Certification; establish

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 6)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-02-05 - House Second Readers [HB282 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-HB282-Introduced.html
09 LC 33 2856-EC
House Bill 282
By: Representatives Coleman of the 97th, Ramsey of the 72nd, Cole of the 125th, Pruett of the 144th, Hembree of the 67th, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT


To amend Subpart 1 of Part 6 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certificated professional personnel under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to revise certain provisions relating to the Georgia Master Teacher Program; to provide for a bonus for teachers receiving a Master Teacher Certification; to establish a Distinguished Teacher Leader Certification; to provide for criteria; to provide for applications; to provide for a bonus for teachers receiving a Distinguished Teacher Leader Certification; to provide for automatic certification renewal of Master Teachers' and Distinguished Teacher Leaders' teaching certificates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.
Subpart 1 of Part 6 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certificated professional personnel under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended by revising Code Section 20-2-205, relating to the Georgia Master Teacher Program, as follows:
"20-2-205.
(a) The General Assembly finds that excellent public school teachers deserve recognition for the extraordinary learning opportunity they provide to Georgia students.
(b) The Professional Standards Commission is authorized and directed to establish the 'Georgia Master Teacher and Distinguished Teacher Leader Program' to provide recognition to certificated public school teachers who exhibit excellence in the classroom.
(c)(1) The Professional Standards Commission shall establish criteria for a Master Teacher Certification. Such criteria shall include, at a minimum, evidence of student achievement, which must include student progress. Such criteria may also include, at the discretion of the Professional Standards Commission, mentoring, department chair position, or other requirements. A public school teacher with three or more years of teaching experience in Georgia may submit an application to the Professional Standards Commission for a Master Teacher Certification. The Professional Standards Commission shall review each application and determine whether a teacher meets the criteria for a Master Teacher Certification. If the Professional Standards Commission finds that a teacher's application meets the criteria, the teacher will shall be given a Master Teacher Certification, and that teacher will shall be known as and may be called a Master Teacher for a term to be determined pursuant to rules and regulations of the Professional Standards Commission, but in no event longer than seven five years. The Professional Standards Commission is authorized to develop rules and regulations governing the Master Teacher Certification.
(2) On and after June 30, 2010, each teacher receiving a Master Teacher Certification pursuant to this subsection shall receive a bonus equal to 10 percent of such teacher's state salary each year such certification is in force. This paragraph shall be subject to appropriations from the General Assembly.
(d)(1) The Professional Standards Commission shall establish criteria for a Distinguished Teacher Leader Certification. Such criteria shall include, at a minimum, a Master Teacher Certification; a master's degree or higher in a content field, curriculum and instruction, or a related field; a teacher leader endorsement from the Professional Standards Commission; and a recommendation by the teacher's principal or peer faculty. Such criteria may also include, at the discretion of the Professional Standards Commission, mentoring, department chair position, or other requirements. A public school teacher with five or more years of teaching experience in Georgia may submit an application to the Professional Standards Commission for a Distinguished Teacher Leader Certification. The Professional Standards Commission shall review each application and determine whether a teacher meets the criteria for a Distinguished Teacher Leader Certification. If the Professional Standards Commission finds that a teacher's application meets the criteria, the teacher shall be given a Distinguished Teacher Leader Certification, and that teacher shall be known as and may be called a Distinguished Teacher Leader for a term to be determined pursuant to rules and regulations of the Professional Standards Commission, but in no event longer than five years. The Professional Standards Commission is authorized to develop rules and regulations governing the Distinguished Teacher Leader Certification.
(2) On and after June 30, 2010, each teacher receiving a Distinguished Teacher Leader Certification pursuant to this subsection shall receive a bonus equal to 15 percent of such teacher's state salary each year such certification is in force. This paragraph shall be subject to appropriations from the General Assembly.
(e) A teacher receiving a Master Teacher Certification or Distinguished Teacher Leader Certification pursuant to this Code section shall have automatic certification renewal of such teacher's teaching certificate issued by the Professional Standards Commission pursuant to Code Section 20-2-200 during the term the Master Teacher Certification or Distinguished Teacher Leader Certification is in force.
(d) This Code section shall be repealed on June 30, 2009."

SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
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