Georgia

The purpose of this document is to capture state-by-state information of policy and guidelines related to the science of reading / evidence-based reading instruction to be presented on The Reading League Compass, a website of reliable and reputable guidance and resources for targeted stakeholder groups.

Local control?

Yes

Has your state passed legislation and/or non-legislated rule changes related to the science of reading?

Main components are high-quality instructional materials, universal screeners, targeted interventions, professional learning, and teacher preparation

This bill establishes a 30-member council appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House for the purpose of conducting comprehensive reviews of birth to postsecondary programs, the alignment of state support for such programs, and other issues related to improving the literacy outcomes of Georgia students.

Does your state have an approved curriculum list?

Not at this time.

There is currently a Request for Information from vendors and a process to review core instructional materials. Legislation requires a list to be approved by the State Board of Education by January 1, 2024.

Was evidence-aligned reading instruction a consideration for the curriculum review?

We are early in this process and not ready to release the rubrics.

Please describe any other instructional-materials work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable

We have just started this work. We anticipate providing guidance documents to districts for support.

Does your state mandate or provide guidance on early screening?

Yes. The Georgia Early Literacy Act requires that a  universal screener be administered three times per year to K-3 students. The screener must measure foundational literacy skills, characteristics of dyslexia, and be able to be used for progress monitoring.

The State Board of Education approved a list of universal screeners in July 2023. There will be an annual window to submit universal screeners for consideration each January.

Does your state have policy or guidance related to instruction and/or professional development

Yes. There is a professional learning component of the Georgia Early Literacy Act which requires training for all K-3rd grade teachers on the science of reading , structured literacy, and foundational reading skills.The bill also requires that all early learning teachers in programs licensed by the Department of Early Care and Learning receive training on developmentally appropriate evidence based literacy instruction.

Has your state reviewed standards for alignment to the science of reading?

Yes. Georgia’s State Board of Education recently approved new standards for English Language Arts that will be implemented during the 2025-2026 school year. The standards include a foundations domain for grades K-5. The new standards can be found here.

Does your state have licensure or program approval criteria to ensure Educator Preparation Programs are aligned to the science of reading?

Yes

The Georgia Early Literacy Act requires that by July 1, 2025, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission will require that the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) align with developmentally appropriate evidence-based literacy instruction.

Please describe and link to any other work you would like to share that relates to the science of reading

Georgia’s literacy legislation was signed into law in spring 2023, which explains why much of our work is in the beginning stages.

Use the interactive state map to find descriptions of state-level policy adoption, guidance, and practices related to the science of reading. State policy may include legislation incorporating training or practices related to the science of reading or state education agency guidance regarding policy, professional development, curricula, instruction, or assessment.

Filter by specific topic area(s) to find state-specific work: 

The Reading League expresses gratitude to our collaborators and associates within the state education agencies for sharing their state-specific data. This data will undergo semi-annual updates, contingent upon the availability and resources of the respective state agencies. For any inquiries, clarifications, or updates, please reach out to compass@thereadingleague.org.