Georgia CommonsHB 972: Education; require written notice to parents and guardians of students in grades four through eight at least twice each school year stating whether such student has attained grade level reading proficiency
Last action January 16, 2026 · House Second Readers
A Georgia House bill would require local school boards to tell parents at least twice a year, in writing, whether their child in grades four through eight is reading at grade level.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Georgia law currently does not require schools to regularly tell parents whether their child is reading at grade level in the middle grades. This bill would add a new section to the Quality Basic Education Act requiring local boards of education and other public school governing bodies to create and carry out a policy for notifying parents about their child's reading proficiency. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, schools would have to send written notice to the parent or guardian of every student in grades four through eight stating whether that student has reached grade level reading proficiency. This notice would have to go out at least twice during each school year. The bill does not specify the format of the notice or set penalties for noncompliance; it leaves the details of the policy to each local board.
What the bill does
- Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-153.2) requiring local school boards to create a policy for notifying parents about their child's reading proficiency.
- Requires written notice to parents or guardians of students in grades four through eight about whether the student has reached grade level reading proficiency.
- Sets a minimum frequency of at least twice per school year for these written notices.
- Sets the start date for this requirement as the 2026-2027 school year.
Who it affects
The bill affects parents and guardians of public school students in grades four through eight, local boards of education and other public school governing bodies that must create and carry out the notice policy, and school staff responsible for assessing reading proficiency and sending the notices.
Why it matters
Parents of students in grades four through eight would get a regular, direct, written update on whether their child is reading at grade level, rather than relying on report cards or informal communication, which could help families identify reading struggles earlier and seek additional support.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds new Code section 20-2-153.2, requiring each local board of education and public school governing body to develop and implement a written notice policy.
- The notice must state whether a student in grades four through eight has attained grade level reading proficiency.
- The written notice must be sent no less than twice each school year.
- The requirement begins in the 2026-2027 school year.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard provision with no independent substantive effect.
From the bill
“each local board of education and other public school governing body shall develop and implement a policy to provide written notice to the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in grades four through eight stating whether such student has attained grade level reading proficiency.”
“Such written notice shall be provided no less than twice each school year.”
Status timeline
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)
- Phil Olaleye (D, HD-059)
- Carmen Rice (R, HD-139)
- Tangie Herring (D, HD-145)
- Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
- Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)
Topics
- education
- reading proficiency
- parent notification
- public schools
- Quality Basic Education Act