(The Center Square) – The Georgia House of Representatives unanimously passed an amended version of the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, sending the bill to Gov. Brian Kemp for its signature.
The Senate kept literacy coaches for all of the state’s elementary schools in the budget but changed the funding from the Quality Basic Education Act, Georgia’s school funding formula, to the grants.
The bill was championed by House Speaker Jon Burns, whose wife, Dale, is a retired school principal. She was with Burns when the bill passed the House on Tuesday evening.
“I will tell you, you’ve been steadfast, the members of this House, both parties from all over the state, rural Georgia, urban Georgia, big cities, small towns,” Burns said. “The House has stood fast to make a difference in or future, Georgia’s future. This bill, House Bill 1193, will be transformational and we’re going to stay with it, y’all.”
Only 38% of Georgia’s third graders are proficient readers, according to data from the Georgia Council on Literacy.
“I mentioned this to you when I was up here the last time,” said Rep. Chris Erwin, R-Homer, the bill’s primary House sponsor. “Watch our children in our schools change when they can read on grade level. Watch how our society changes when our adults have gone through school and read better in this state. Look at how our jails change, and our prisons.”
The bill drew bipartisan support in both chambers. Senate passage Tuesday was 49-0.
“This is just the beginning of a success story that I believe will make a generational difference in the lives of children, families, and our entire state by ensuring every child has the chance to learn to read,” Burns said.
