Bill > HB538

Introduced Session

AN ACT To amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to provide for the "Georgia Early Literacy Act"; to require the Department of Early Care and Learning to provide for developmentally appropriate evidence based literacy instruction training requirements for certain child care providers; to require the State Board of Education to establish a uniform standard for measuring literacy; to require the State Board of Education to approve high-quality instructional materials to be used for teaching students in kindergarten through third grade; to provide for the approval and use of universal reading screeners for all public school students in this state in kindergarten through third grade; to provide for the Department of Education to develop or procure training for kindergarten through third grade teachers on the science of reading, structured literacy, and foundational literacy skills; to require all public school kindergarten through third grade teachers in this state to complete such training; to provide for annual reports by the Department of Education; to require local boards of education to approve high-quality instructional materials for students in kindergarten through third grade and to administer universal reading screeners multiple times each school year to students in kindergarten through third grade; to require reports of the results of such screeners to parents of students and to the Department of Education for analysis; to require reading intervention plans for students with significant reading deficiencies; to prohibit certain waivers; to provide for formative reading assessments for students in first and second grades; to require the Professional Standards Commission to revise standards for acquiring and maintaining teacher certification in all HB 538/AP teaching fields to include requirements regarding developmentally appropriate evidence based literacy instruction; to require the Professional Standards Commission to ensure students completing teacher certification programs have the knowledge and skills to teach reading; to provide for definitions; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Bethany Ballard (R)*,  Chris Erwin (R)*,  Becky Evans (D)*,  Carl Gilliard (D)*,  Jan Jones (R)*,  Will Wade (R)*,  Billy Hickman (R), 

Senate Joint Education & Higher Education Committees (13:00:00 2/9/2024 450 CAP) (on 02/09/2024)

Official Document