Georgia State University’s College of Education & Human Development is partnering with four Georgia school districts to help reduce the teacher shortage in Georgia.

The Pathways to Teacher Credentialing Project creates a partnership between the college and Atlanta Public Schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools, the Newton County School System and Rockdale County Public Schools to prepare educators and help the districts retain teachers.

Provisionally licensed teachers who are currently in the classroom and paraprofessionals with bachelor’s degrees in these four districts will earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree, which will prepare them to become certified teachers of record. At the same time, licensed and certified classroom teachers will earn a Master of Education degree to enhance their skills and advance in their careers.

Over the three-year course of this project, the college will support the professional development of 270 educators.

All teachers and paraprofessionals who earn advanced degrees through the Pathways to Teacher Credentialing Project will commit to teaching in their districts for a certain number of years after they graduate, which provides local schools with a more stable workforce.

The project builds on the College of Education & Human Development alumni’s strong retention rates in the state. About 95 percent of CEHD teacher education alumni stay in the metro-Atlanta area for their careers, and 87 percent are still working in high-needs schools three years after graduation.

By recruiting educators who already work in these districts and who have demonstrated a commitment to a career in education, the Pathways to Teacher Credentialing Project will reinforce the state’s teacher workforce and give Georgia students a quality education from well-prepared educators.

This program is made possible by funding from Georgia State, the four partner school districts, federal- and state-level TEACH Grants and The Goizueta Foundation.

“The quality of a child’s teacher has a tremendous impact on their learning,” said Laura May, CEHD associate dean and project director. “We’re excited to see multiple stakeholders come together to support this meaningful, long-term professional development program.”