For school districts across Georgia, paraprofessionals represent one of the strongest pipelines into the teaching profession, so Georgia Department of Education has been working with districts statewide to formalize that pathway through the Georgia Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program — a paid, classroom-based route to teacher certification. The program combines on-the-job learning, college coursework, mentorship, and district/state support, helping school systems develop and retain educators who are already rooted in their communities.