SB 459: "Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026"; enact

Georgia has struggled with early reading outcomes, and this bill rewrites large parts of the state's education code to address it. It requires all local school systems to offer full-day kindergarten and makes school attendance effectively begin at age five. Children entering first grade would face a formal readiness assessment covering reading skills, with a tiered intervention plan and possible placement committee review for kids found significantly behind. Schools would be required to fund a school-based literacy coach for grades K-3, with the state creating a new coaching certification (literacy coaching endorsement). The bill also rewrites the 'Georgia Early Literacy and Dyslexia Act' (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-153.1), tightening rules on reading screeners, instructional materials aligned to the 'science of reading,' and teacher-prep programs. It creates new state positions and bodies: a Georgia Director of Literacy, a Georgia Literacy Coach Coordinator, a Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee, and a Georgia Literacy Task Force, plus regional literacy coaches through Georgia's regional educational service agencies. Most requirements phase in between 2026 and 2029, and the law would take effect once the Governor signs it.

• Requires all local school systems to offer full-day kindergarten and makes attending kindergarten a prerequisite for first grade, with limited exceptions.
• Creates a formal first-grade readiness assessment process, including tiered reading intervention plans and a parent-appealable placement committee for children found at risk.
• Requires state funding (Quality Basic Education funding) to pay for a school-based literacy coach in every public school serving grades K-3.
• Establishes a new literacy coaching endorsement credential through the Professional Standards Commission for teachers by December 30, 2026.
• Creates the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee, a Director of Literacy, a Literacy Coach Coordinator, and a Georgia Literacy Task Force to oversee reading screeners, instructional materials, and statewide literacy policy.
• Requires local school systems and charter schools to adopt 'unified literacy plans' by January 1, 2027 or lose eligibility for certain waivers and charter contracts.

Public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade and their parents, K-3 classroom teachers and literacy coaches, local school boards and charter schools, the Department of Education, the Office of Student Achievement, the Professional Standards Commission, and Georgia's regional educational service agencies (RESAs).

Families would see earlier, more formal reading testing and possible grade retention decisions starting in first grade, and schools would gain dedicated literacy coaches funded by the state. Teacher training programs and classroom reading materials would have to align with specific reading-science standards, changing daily classroom practice statewide.

• Section 3-4 lowers the compulsory enrollment age reference from seven to five and requires all local systems to offer full-day kindergarten instead of making it optional.
• Section 4 creates a detailed first-grade readiness assessment and placement committee process, including written parent notice and appeal rights, effective for the 2027-2028 school year.
• Section 5 substantially rewrites the Georgia Early Literacy and Dyslexia Act, adding legislative intent language favoring 'structured literacy' and 'science of reading' instruction and requiring unified literacy plans by January 1, 2027.
• Section 6 requires local education agencies to earn state funding for a full-time school-based literacy coach in each school with grades K-3, with reduced funding for schools of 200 or fewer students.
• Section 7 directs the Professional Standards Commission to create a literacy coaching endorsement credential by December 30, 2026.
• Section 8 authorizes regional educational service agencies to employ regional literacy coaches and regional leadership literacy coaches to support local schools.
• Section 15 establishes the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee, the Director of Literacy and Coach Coordinator positions, and the Georgia Literacy Task Force to recommend reading screeners and instructional materials.
• Section 16 states the Act takes effect upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.

1. 2026-02-05Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-04Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)Primary sponsor
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)

• early literacy
• kindergarten requirements
• reading instruction
• school funding
• teacher certification