Panel hears bill to extend Georgia return-to-work program for retired teachers to 2030

Representative Jason Ballard told the Georgia House Retirement Committee that House Bill 372 would extend the state’s teacher return-to-work program to 2030 and give local school districts more flexibility in designating high-needs subject areas.

Ballard said the 2022 program lets retired teachers with 30 years of creditable service return to classroom work after a one-year hiatus; HB 372 would preserve that one-year wait but move the program’s sunset to 2030 and change the list-making authority so individual districts may define their own high-needs subjects. "So what House Bill 372 does, it moves out the sunset of the program to 2030," Ballard said, adding the change is intended to help districts keep experienced teachers in hard-to-fill classrooms.

The bill also addresses a retention gap under the original program: if a rehired teacher’s subject later falls off a statewide high-needs list, the district would not be required to let the teacher go. "They can retain you as a teacher because we want to keep those good teachers in the classroom," Ballard said.

Committee members pressed for details on benefits and pension treatment. Witnesses and committee participants clarified that rehired teachers do not earn additional years of creditable service while working under the return-to-work arrangement; health coverage and payroll contributions remain governed by current rules. Committee testimony described common retirement levels as roughly 50% of salary at 25 years and 60% at 30 years, and committee witnesses said an early-retirement penalty of about 7% per year applies for retirement earlier than 30 years. Members also noted that for many teachers salary and step schedules plateau in the early 20s of service.

Margaret Ciccarelli of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, which represents educators statewide, told the committee the program is a practical tool to fill vacancies in science, math and special education. "This program will expire this year without legislative action, so we must take action," Ciccarelli said. Stephanie Tanner of the Georgia School Boards Association said GSBA supports the bill because it gives districts flexibility to fill high-need positions during the spring contract season.

Supporters framed HB 372 as part of a multi-pronged approach to the teacher pipeline: expanding pathways for new teachers and removing barriers that prevent districts from keeping experienced educators in the classroom. The bill was heard by the committee during this session; no committee vote was recorded on HB 372 at this hearing. The committee indicated it will continue work with companion Senate measures and stakeholders to seek a compromise and timely action so districts can use the program when issuing upcoming contracts.