§ 20-2-212.3 - Increasing teachers' salaries in areas of shortage; criteria for determining shortage
               	 		
O.C.G.A.    20-2-212.3   (2010)
   20-2-212.3.    Increasing teachers' salaries in areas of shortage; criteria for determining shortage 
      (a)  The  State Board of Education shall identify schools and local school  systems in the state where an insufficient supply of qualified teachers  is available to deliver instruction in the fields of mathematics,  science, special education, or foreign language, based on criteria  defined by the State Board of Education, the Professional Standards  Commission, and the Office of Student Achievement. Upon determination of  shortages each year, the State Board of Education shall request funds  sufficient to provide for salary increases not to exceed one additional  step on the state salary schedule for which the teacher would otherwise  have been entitled for positions contracted for in those locations and  fields during the school year. Funding shall be based on the number of  eligible positions identified for the previous school year, subject to  appropriation by the General Assembly. Upon receiving three such salary  increases, a teacher shall become ineligible for additional salary  increases under this Code section.
(b)  The  criteria used for assessing whether or not an insufficient supply of  qualified teachers is available and the data used in making the  determination that a shortage exists shall be submitted by the Office of  Student Achievement to the chairpersons of the House Education  Committee and the Senate Education and Youth Committee no later than  December 1 of each year.