ATLANTA () – The Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) is raising concerns over teacher waivers, arguing they allow local school districts to bypass state laws and create their own policies — a move they say harms both students and teachers.

GAE says the waivers impact key areas such as gifted programs, special education, English as a Second Language (ESOL) services, and classroom size limits.

Lisa Morgan, president of GAE, said every district in Georgia currently has a waiver on state class size requirements.

“Those class sizes were put into place because we know what best practices are. The more students in a class, the less time a teacher has with each individual student,” Morgan explained.

Educators also say large class sizes, reduced planning time, and fewer mental health resources are creating a tough environment for both teachers and students. Morgan warned it could lead to even more teacher burnout and departures from the profession.

“We are still experiencing a teacher shortage here in Georgia and across the country. It’s not simply pay — it’s also the teaching conditions in the classroom,” she said.

GAE says waivers also impact other areas such as bus safety training, physical education requirements, and minimum teacher salaries. The organization is urging lawmakers to ban teacher waivers during the next legislative session.