The Georgia Department of Education is one of eight states selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Education's Learning Agenda initiative, a national effort focused on identifying and sharing effective state-led strategies to strengthen education systems and support student success.

Georgia was selected based on its work to strengthen the educator pipeline and support teacher recruitment and retention – including through Teach in the Peach, GaDOE's teacher recruitment campaign aimed at making Georgia the #1 state for teachers to teach.

States participating in the Learning Agenda initiative will work alongside national and regional research centers and other partners to identify successful practices, study outcomes, and share effective models across state lines. GaDOE staff have also been invited to present the agency's educator pipeline work in Washington, D.C.

"Great schools start with great teachers," State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. "We want talented people across Georgia to see teaching as a profession where they can make a lasting difference, be supported in their work, and build meaningful careers serving students and communities. That's why we're committed to being a national leader in strengthening the educator pipeline. We're honored to have the opportunity to share that work and continue learning alongside other states."

The Learning Agenda initiative is part of the U.S. Department of Education's broader effort to support state-led innovation and highlight promising practices that can inform education policy and workforce strategies nationwide.

"The Learning Agenda pilot is a powerful opportunity to accelerate innovative state-led strategies like Georgia's, and to support data-driven work informed by the best research and evidence to ensure every classroom is led by dedicated, well-prepared teachers who inspire students and drive success," said Kirsten Baesler, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education. "When we use what we know works and invest in teachers, we invest in the future of our nation. As the current longest-serving state education chief in the nation, Superintendent Woods is helping drive a crucial effort to strengthen our nation's educator and workforce pipelines, showing the power of returning education to the states."

Through the Learning Agenda pilot, GaDOE will build structures to support research and design cross-functional teams to support and grow the educator pipeline. GaDOE's human capital team will feature national experts in the educator pipeline space, including David Donaldson – founder and CEO of the National Center for Grow Your Own (NCGYO) – and Missy Testerman, the 2024 National Teacher of the Year, who is now on staff at NCGYO.

“Georgia is demonstrating what it looks like when a state treats educator workforce development as a long-term strategic priority rather than a short-term staffing challenge,” Donaldson said. “Through initiatives like Teach in the Peach and a strong commitment from state leadership, Georgia is building innovative pathways that elevate the teaching profession, strengthen local talent pipelines, and create sustainable systems to support future educators.”

,Georgia's selection for the program follows several recent efforts focused on strengthening the educator pipeline, including the second annual Teach in the Peach Statewide Educator Signing Day, which honored students and career changers committed to pursuing careers in education. Modeled after athletic signing days, this year’s event included 2,026 future educators from communities across Georgia.

The statewide Signing Day is a signature initiative of Teach in the Peach, which also recently introduced its first cohort of teacher ambassadors – current Georgia public-school educators who will help elevate the profession and support teacher recruitment efforts across the state.

GaDOE has also worked to strengthen long-term pathways into the profession through partnerships with the Technical College System of Georgia and University System of Georgia, and has partnered with other state agencies to address teacher recruitment and retention holistically through the state's SR 237 Task Force.