HB 307: Quality Basic Education Act; students significantly at risk of not achieving grade level reading proficiency or with characteristics of dyslexia; include provisions

Georgia already requires public schools to screen kindergarten through third grade students for reading struggles and use tiered intervention plans. HB307 builds on that law, the Georgia Early Literacy Act (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-153.1), by renaming it the Georgia Early Literacy and Dyslexia Act and adding a formal definition of dyslexia and 'characteristics of dyslexia.' Schools would have to create individualized support plans and send parents detailed written notice, within 15 school days, when a student shows characteristics of dyslexia, including information on the data used, planned interventions, and the parent's right to opt the child out of the plan. The bill bans the three cueing system, a method of teaching word reading using meaning, structure, and visual cues, from being used or promoted in any K-3 instructional materials or curriculum. It repeals the state's Reading Recovery Program reference and a separate dyslexia screening code section, replacing them with the new integrated provisions. It also creates a Georgia Literacy Coach Coordinating Committee inside the Office of Student Achievement, expands the Georgia Council on Literacy's mission to include adult literacy, and extends that council's repeal date from 2026 to 2030. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Adds a legal definition of dyslexia and creates a new category of students with characteristics of dyslexia within Georgia's early literacy law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-153.1).
• Requires schools to create support plans and send parents written notice within 15 school days when a student is identified with characteristics of dyslexia.
• Bans public schools from using curricula, instructional materials, or teaching practices based on the three cueing system, a method of teaching word reading through meaning, structure, and visual cues, for K-3 students.
• Requires the Department of Education to publish and distribute a yearly dyslexia informational handbook to every school and requires schools to report dyslexia identification numbers.
• Repeals the state's Reading Recovery Program reference and a separate dyslexia screening code section, folding related requirements into the main literacy law.
• Creates a Georgia Literacy Coach Coordinating Committee within the Office of Student Achievement and extends the Georgia Council on Literacy's repeal date from 2026 to 2030.

Kindergarten through third grade students who struggle with reading or show signs of dyslexia, their parents and guardians, public school teachers and administrators, local school systems, the Department of Education, the Office of Student Achievement, and members of the Georgia Council on Literacy and its expense reimbursements.

Parents of young readers who are struggling would get more specific written explanations and a formal support plan tailored to dyslexia rather than a general reading deficiency label. Teachers would lose the option to use three cueing based materials, and schools face new reporting and training deadlines tied to dyslexia identification.

• Section 1-2 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 20-2-153.1, renaming it the Georgia Early Literacy and Dyslexia Act and adding definitions for dyslexia, characteristics of dyslexia, and the three cueing system.
• Section 1-2 requires the Department of Education to publish a dyslexia informational handbook by July 15 each year and requires schools to certify they distributed it and report dyslexia identification data.
• Section 1-2 requires written parent notification within 15 school days for students identified as significantly at risk of not reaching grade level reading or with characteristics of dyslexia, detailing data used and proposed interventions.
• Section 1-2 bans local school systems and public schools from using any K-3 curriculum, instructional materials, or practices based on the three cueing system for teaching word reading.
• Section 1-3 repeals O.C.G.A. § 20-2-159.6, the prior dyslexia screening and pilot program provision, folding its functions into the amended § 20-2-153.1.
• Section 1-2 establishes the Georgia Literacy Coach Coordinating Committee within the Office of Student Achievement to coordinate statewide literacy coaching.
• Section 2-2 and 2-5 expand the Georgia Council on Literacy's mission to include adult literacy outcomes and extend its automatic repeal date from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2030.
• Section 3-1 makes the law effective immediately upon the Governor's signature.

1. 2025-04-28Effective Date
2. 2025-04-28Act 13
3. 2025-04-28House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-09House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-31House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2025-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2025-03-27Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2025-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senate)

• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)Primary sponsor
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-32)
• Jan Jones (R, HD-47)
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-29)
• John Corbett (R, HD-174)
• Carmen Rice (R, HD-139)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 28, 2025

   166 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 7 excused)

   PASSAGE: House Vote #113

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2025

   55 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 1 excused)

   PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE: Senate Vote #302

3. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2025

   167 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 9 excused)

   Agree to Senate Substitute: House Vote #357

• dyslexia
• reading instruction
• early literacy
• public schools
• special education support