What is the Georgia’s BEST Program?

Thanks to the partnership with the University of West Georgia and financial investment of the Cobb Schools Board of Education and Superintendent Ragsdale, Georgia’s BEST is an opportunity for employees to pursue a higher degree at no tuition cost pursuant to a three-year commitment to the Cobb County School District. The advanced degree must be in the same area where the applicant works.

What degree programs will be offered?

CCSD will consider high needs areas along with teachers’ interest to determine program availability on a yearly basis.

What is the cost for applicants to pursue an advanced degree through Georgia’s BEST?

Thanks to the partnership with the University of West Georgia and financial investment of the Cobb Schools Board of Education and Superintendent Ragsdale, there is no tuition cost for applicants at this time.

Where can I find more information about Georgia’s BEST program?

Visit the University of West Georgia website for more information on Georgia’s BEST program.

FAQ: THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Are there any restrictions specific to which degree program and area of concentration applicants can pursue?

Yes, you must work in the same area as the advanced degree you plan to pursue.

How long do you have to work in the Cobb County School District before applying for Georgia’s BEST?

Any current, full-time, certified CCSD employee can apply! 

What are the qualifications for admission for current teachers?

Admissions qualifications into Georgia’s BEST includes the following requirements:

• Must be a Cobb County School District certified teacher in good standing
• Hold a current, renewable Georgia teaching certificate
• Have completed an acceptable baccalaureate degree at a four-year college
• Cobb Schools is requiring that all applicants for the Ed.D. in School Improvement must have already earned, or will have earned, their Ed.S. by December 31, 2023
• Are in good academic standing at the last college or university attended
• Attained a minimum GPA of 2.7 in an acceptable earned baccalaureate degree
• Meet the professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards for graduate study, including qualifying examinations and specific course and/or grade prerequisites, as appropriate campus authorities may prescribe.

In unusual circumstances, CCSD and West Georgia University may make exceptions to these criteria. Graduate students must apply to the university AND to the CCSD Georgia’s BEST program. Due to unique program requirements, previous credit awarded for graduate studies will not be transferred to this program.

What are the qualifications for admission for current paraprofessionals?

Admissions qualifications into Georgia’s BEST includes the following requirements:

• Must be a Cobb County School District certified staff paraprofessional in good standing
• Hold a current, renewable Georgia paraprofessional certificate
• Have completed an acceptable baccalaureate degree at a four-year college
• Cobb Schools is requiring that all applicants for the Ed.D. in School Improvement must have already earned, or will have earned, their Ed.S. by December 31, 2023
• Are in good academic standing at the last college or university attended
• Attained a minimum GPA of 2.7 in an acceptable earned baccalaureate degree
• Have passed the GACE Educator Ethics (test #360) exam
• Must be able to complete a year-long internship in Cobb County School District
• Meet the professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards for graduate study, including qualifying examinations and specific course and/or grade prerequisites, as appropriate campus authorities may prescribe.

In unusual circumstances, CCSD and University of West Georgia may make exceptions to these criteria. Graduate students must apply to the university AND to the CCSD Georgia’s BEST program. Due to unique program requirements, previous credit awarded for graduate studies will not be transferred to this program.

How can I be considered by CCSD for Georgia’s BEST?

Submit a completed application to the CCSD Georgia’s BEST Program.

Those provisionally admitted through CCSD will then be invited to apply to University of West Georgia via instructions emailed by the Graduate School. Necessary documents to be submitted to the University of West Georgia will include:

• Official College Transcripts
• Verification of Lawful Presence

If you are provisionally approved through CCSD, please go ahead and request an official transcript from all schools attended to be sent to the UWG Graduate School. Official electronic transcripts are preferred and can be sent directly from the issuing school through their official transcript service to University of West Georgia- Graduate Admissions at graduate@westga.edu.

If official electronic copies are not available, an official sealed hard copy may be mailed to: 

UWG Graduate Admissions 
Mandeville Hall 
1601 Maple Street 
Carrollton, GA 30118

Where do applicants go to apply?

Apply using the CCSD application. Cobb staff who have been selected to apply to the University of West Georgia will be notified within a few weeks of applying.

When are the application windows for admission?

For the Spring Cohort 2024, the application window is open now through 5pm on October 18, 2023.

Who do I contact if I have any questions about the application or application process?

Please direct all application questions to GeorgiasBEST@cobbk12.org.

If an applicant is not accepted into the Georgia’s Best Program for the term in which they applied, will they have to reapply for the next cohort?

Applicants who are not accepted will have the option to reapply to a future cohort.

FAQ: THE SELECTION PROCESS

How are applicants selected for Georgia’s BEST?

A comprehensive review of all application materials will be considered to select each cohort. Applicants will be selected on a variety of factors, including their qualifications that match the needs of students in the Cobb County School District.

Is there a limit on the number of applicants who will be accepted into the program?

The program, called Georgia’s BEST, will be limited to approximately 500 Cobb educators per year. The program started in summer 2023 with the acceptance of 200 Cobb educators. An additional 300 spots for educators in Fall 2023. More educators will have the opportunity to apply for Spring 2024.

When will applicants learn whether they have been selected into Georgia’s BEST?

Applicants will be notified of acceptance one month prior to the start of the first program term.

How will applicants be notified of acceptance?

All applicants will receive notification of their application status via email. Status will be listed as Accepted or Not Accepted.

FAQ: PROGRAM PARTICIPATION

When do the semesters for Georgia’s BEST begin?

The starting date for the next cohort is listed below:

Are you able to transfer credits to use toward the advanced degree?

Due to unique program requirements, previous credit awarded for graduate studies will not be transferred to this program.

What additional costs will I be responsible to cover?

Participants will be required to cover the costs of the application to West Georgia and any textbooks, technology, or software not currently installed on CCSD-issued devices.

How long does it take to pursue an advanced degree in Georgia’s BEST program?

University of West Georgia’s advanced degree programs vary in length and required credit hours. Please see specific Programs of Study for details.

FAQ: ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS & INFORMATION

Why should I consider pursuing an advanced degree?

In addition to increasing your ability to support Cobb students and their needs, Cobb educators with advanced degrees are the highest-paid educators, with similar qualifications, in the Atlanta metro. Based on the 2022-2023 salary schedule, a Cobb teacher with five years of experience earns about $6,874 more per year with a master’s degree than a teacher with a bachelor’s degree alone. At ten years, the difference rises to $8,786 per year, and at 20 years of service, the difference is more than $10,000 per year.

Is it possible to be accepted into the program and work through the courses without being a teacher at the same time?

No. Participants must be a certified staff member in Cobb County School District. You will need to have access to a classroom to apply what you have learned. The Georgia’s BEST program focuses on helping to provide skills that educators can apply immediately in their classrooms or places of work.

Will my courses in this program be transferable to a higher degree?

Due to the uniqueness of this program, participants can earn an advanced degree in their selected Georgia’s BEST Program field of study. Transfer of course credit to any other program or to a higher degree programs is determined by each institution, not by the CCSD Georgia’s BEST Program or by the University of West Georgia.

Which advanced degree pathway do I choose? Based on my specific situation, I have questions on which degree course would qualify me for Georgia's BEST?

For questions related to how a degree course applies to your professional career path, please contact Georgia Professional Standards Commission.