SUMMARY:  This bill would amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A. to restore salary increases for National Board Certification without the requirement for the teacher to be in a high-needs school.  It would also grant the increases to teachers teaching part-time and would not penalize a teacher who left a teaching position and then returned.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Teachers would be granted 2 days of paid leave to prepare the portfolio required for national certification;
• A portion of the national certification fee might be paid by the state;
  • If the teacher holds a valid Georgia certificate and teaches in the state,
  • If the teacher has submitted a valid application to the National Board, and
  • If the teacher has completed a screening process developed by the PSC.
• If the teacher should not teach for a minimum of 1 year after receiving certification, he/she would have to repay the reimbursement for the certification fee paid by the state.