The Georgia Department of Education is taking applications for a teacher tax credit in an effort to help the state, recruit and retain more educators. GPB’s Amanda Andrews explains.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed four bills he said will make classrooms safer.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed four bills this week he said will make classrooms safer.

Credit: GPB/File

The Georgia Department of Education announced applications are open for qualified teachers to receive a $3,000 tax credit for the next five years. The Teacher Recruitment Tax Credit is an effort by state officials to retain more teachers.

Teachers at 100 participating schools are eligible under legislation passed in 2021. The program focuses on 100 rural and underperforming schools and high needs subject areas.

State Superintendent Richard Woods said retention has been an issue since he first took office.

“I think we've remained pretty consistent that for every two teachers that go into the profession, by Year Five, we probably lose one,” he said.

Woods also advocates for teacher pay raises, increased support for new teachers, and allowing school districts to utilize retired teachers. Rural areas have been hit especially hard by teachers leaving the profession, so new incentives are also focused on recruiting teachers to serve those areas.

Tags: schools  Teacher Shortage  Teacher Pay  Georgia  Public Policy  Atlanta  Macon  Savannah