Under ESSA, Title I, Part A, the state education agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) must ensure teachers meet applicable state certification requirements. In Georgia, under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.), state certification requirements are established by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC). However, Georgia law also allows LEAs to waive certification requirements in Title 20 if the LEA has an approved Charter or Strategic Waiver Application. LEAs that waive state certification must establish professional qualifications (PQ) for their teachers and report the requirements in their annual ESSA application - the Consolidated LEA Improvement Plan (CLIP). Professional qualification requirements apply to all teachers in all local education agencies. If certification is waived, teachers may meet in-field requirements using equivalent qualifications (degree, coursework, or content area assessment). ESSA also requires SEAs and LEAs to report annually the qualifications of teachers including those teachers who are out-of-field.
PQ and In-Field Documents

Implementation Guide Monthly Calendar
Overview Documents
Technical Assistance
August 27, 2021
Professional Qualifications & In-Field Back to the Basics 101
PowerPoint Webinar
| September 1, 2021
ESSA In-Field Reporting Updates & Professional Qualifications for FY22
PowerPoint Audio Only
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In-Field Portal
The Georgia Department of Education partners with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission to operate and maintain the in-field portal which identifies teachers who are in-field or out of field.