Governor Brian Kemp Thursday signed into law Senate Bill 211 establishing the Georgia Council on Literacy. The council will work to ensure improved literacy outcomes for students.
The council will be made up of 30 appointees, including some from the private sector along with elected and appointed government officials. They will conduct comprehensive reviews of birth to postsecondary literacy programs to ensure their effectiveness. The council will also research and provide recommendations on how to improve literacy rates for students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities as well as students from low-income households.
Senator Billy Hickman (R-Statesboro) sponsored the bill which states, “Current Georgian literacy rates are not where they need to be to support the workforce needs of our growing economy.”
Noting it’s been many years since there was a “systematic study of Georgia’s efforts to support student and adult literacy efforts” the bill seeks to correct that.
“The creation of the Georgia Council on Literacy is a major step forward in improving early literacy rates in our state,” says Sen. Hickman. “It is vital to ensure our children receive literacy instruction backed by evidence-based principles. This has been a priority of the Senate Majority Caucus, and I am honored to have carried it through to the finish line with bipartisan support.”
Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) called it a “landmark bill” that will help cultivate an educated workforce.
“Giving these children a strong foundation in literacy will not only ensure that they have a pathway to individual success, but that Georgia has a strong foundation for economic prosperity in the future,” says Gooch.
While lawmakers hope to achieve lasting impacts, the council itself is only temporary. The bill states the council will be abolished and the bill establishing it will be repealed on December 31, 2026.
Kemp also signed into law House Bill 538 – the Georgia Early Literacy Act – which aims to increase student literacy rates between Kindergarten and the third grade.
District 32 State Representative Chris Erwin was one of the sponsors of the bill.
Studies have shown that reading proficiency at age eight is among the most accurate predictors for whether a student will graduate from high school. The new law provides for reading assessments and curriculum to help the state reach its goal of having all students read on grade level by the end of third grade.
