Atlanta, Georgia – Georgia State University has teamed up with four school districts around metro Atlanta to offer a special deal for those working in education. This deal lets people like teaching assistants and teachers study for their master’s degrees without having to pay any tuition or fees.
Atlanta, Gwinnett County, Newton County, and Rockdale County are joining the initiative
The partnership includes schools in Atlanta, Gwinnett County, Newton County, and Rockdale County. It aims to tackle the issue of not having enough teachers in Georgia, as stated in a press release by the university’s College of Education and Human Development.
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Through the Pathways to Teacher Credentialing Project, those who are already teaching but don’t have full certification, as well as teaching assistants who have finished their undergrad degrees, can work towards getting a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. This helps them become fully certified teachers. Those who are already certified can go for a Master of Education degree.
Teachers must meet certain criteria including keeping their current job
To be part of this program, the teachers and teaching assistants have to agree to keep working in their current school district for a set period.
“Our partnership with Georgia State University is extremely important because it is creating growth opportunities in teaching for various audiences, which in turn supports retaining staff,” Cathy Harden, Gwinnett’s chief human resources officer, said in a news release.
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Georgia State University has launched a three-year initiative to help 270 educators who are already committed to teaching in certain school districts. This project aims to strengthen Georgia’s teaching force by ensuring students learn from well-trained teachers.
Laura May, who plays a key role in this education project at the university, highlighted that the program is tailored for educators who are already working. She emphasized GSU’s commitment to supporting local education, pointing out that a large majority of their teaching graduates continue to work in the metro Atlanta area.
This opportunity is made possible through funding from GSU, the involved school districts, various grants, and the Goizueta Foundation, which means those enrolled won’t have to worry about paying for their tuition and fees. The only cost to participants will be their textbooks.
May is optimistic about the possibility of expanding this program to include more school districts in the future.
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Teachers and teaching assistants interested in this offer should reach out to their HR departments for more details on how to apply. The application deadline is March 5, with the selected candidates starting their courses in May, as stated by Angela Turk from GSU’s College of Education and Human Development.