A program designed to give aspiring educators classroom teaching experience before they ever leave high school is graduating its first students in Macon this month. 

Education and civil rights groups say they will sue to overturn Georgia's law banning the teaching of certain racial concepts. They claimed Friday that the ban on so-called divisive concepts violates First Amendment rights to free expression and 14th Amendment rights to equal protection.

The federal department of education is granting $9.6 million to a partnership between five Georgia school systems and Mercer University’s Tift College of Education. The aim of the partnership is luring mid-career people to teaching.

Thursday on Political Rewind: A special panel unpacks S.B. 377, which bans the teaching of "divisive concepts". The bill was created to curb what conservatives called "Critical Race Theory" in classrooms. Opponents say it harms their ability to teach Georgia's painful racial history.

Eligible educators include K-12 teachers, principals, teachers' aides or counselors who spend more than 900 hours at the school during the academic year.

Friday on Political Rewind: After claiming the 2020 election was rigged, Republicans are mobilizing election volunteers and disputing individual voter registrations statewide. Plus, teachers are better-paid this school year, but they face new restrictions on teaching race and gender.

A recent survey from the National Education Association finds more than 50% of teachers are thinking of leaving the profession. One of the causes? Teacher burnout.

Each teacher selected for the program will receive a $3,000 credit on their state income taxes each year for five consecutive school years.

Tuesday on Political Rewind: Kemp and Abrams disagree on how to protect schools after the Uvalde Massacre, but they both tout raises for teachers. Plus, former U.S. Attorney Pak says there was no fraud in Georgia. Meanwhile, the race for the 10th District turns vicious.

The movie is up for best international feature. It's about an urban teacher who's ticked off about being sent to work in a remote village with no electricity. Enlightenment ensues!

"We are in a major surge now as we're going into the fall, into the school season. This is very serious business," Fauci said. He urges states and localities to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for teachers.

Georgia teachers, school staff and other vulnerable groups will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations starting March 8, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday promising relief for desperate educators who had taken to crossing state lines to get shots.

Educators might play a central role in in-school transmission networks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That means vaccinating teachers against COVID-19 and using multifaceted mitigation measures, such as proper masking, physical distancing and hand washing, are critical to preventing in-school transmission.

Ranjitsinh Disale from India has been honored for finding ways to educate girls whose parents don't want them to come to school.

President Biden wants schools to reopen quickly. But there are questions about whether teachers should first be vaccinated. The CDC will provide more guidance next week.