(The Center Square) – Georgia House Republicans and Democrats united in passing a bill that would add a literacy coach to all K-3 schools and evaluate students to ensure they are reading at grade level.
House Bill 1193 requires the state to assess funding through its formula, the Quality Basic Education Act, to pay for the coaches. Schools with fewer than 200 students would receive 50% of the funding.
School districts must present a plan to state education officials by Jan. 1. The bill also created the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee to oversee the state’s efforts.
Only 38% of Georgia’s third graders are proficient readers, according to data from the Georgia Council on Literacy.
“Reading is fundamental to learning,” said Rep. Chris Erwin, R-Homer, the bill’s primary House sponsor. “All subjects require reading. So we’ve got to set that base. That what this bill does.”
A majority of Georgia’s third-graders are not reading at grade level, Erwin said.
“We have a mission in 1193 that we must accomplish,” Erwin said. “We must teach our kids in third grade to read on grade level.”
The bill drew broad support from both parties.
“Is it not true that House Bill 1193 puts Georgia in the place where we will become the No. 1 state to educate our children?” said Rep. Doreen Carter, D-Lithonia, during parliamentary inquiry.
“I can’t add to that much,” said House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington. “Absolutely and it’s about time.”
The bill passed 170-2, with all Democrats voting for it and two Republicans, Charlice Byrd of Woodstock and Noelle Kahaian of Locust Grove, voting against it.
The Senate will now take up the bill, which has bipartisan cosponsors. Senate Education Committee Chairman Billy Hickman, R-Statesboro, is the primary sponsor.
