Senate Bill 596
By: Senators Mangham of the 55th, Jones II of the 22nd, Wicks of the 34th, Parkes of the 7th
and Orrock of the 36th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 9 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to grants for educational programs under the "Quality Basic education
Act," so as to require the State Board of Education to establish a program of state-wide
coordinated support for summer literacy programs offered by local school systems and other
public schools; to provide for eligibility for such program; to require the Department of
Education to develop a plan to implement such program and to submit such plan to the
General Assembly; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Part 9 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to grants for educational programs under the "Quality Basic education Act," is
amended by revising Code Section 20-2-255, which is reserved, as follows:
"20-2-255.
<ins>(a) The State Board of Education shall establish a program of state-wide coordinated
support for summer literacy programs offered by local school systems and other public
</ins>
<ins>schools to students in kindergarten through grade three. The program shall include, but
shall not be limited to, grants for eligible local school systems and other public schools.
(b) To be eligible to receive grant funds under the program established pursuant to this
Code section, local school systems and other public schools shall submit an application to
the Department of Education on a form and in a manner determined by the Department of
Education, which details:
(1) The summer literacy program or programs to be offered to students in kindergarten
through grade three;
(2) How only high quality instructional materials and instructional practices aligned to
the science of reading shall be used;
(3) How student progress will be measured; and
(4) What particular strategies will be deployed to provide prioritized supports for
students who are identified as significantly at risk of not attaining grade level reading
proficiency, as provided for in Code Section 20-2-153.1.
(c)(1) By November 1, 2026, the Department of Education shall consult with local
school systems and other public schools, the Office of Student Achievement, and the
regional educational services agencies (RESAs) to develop a plan for implementing the
program required by this Code section. Such plan shall:
(A) Include a request for appropriations sufficient to provide for the program required
by this Code section and a proposal for the most effective method of awarding grants
to local school systems and other public schools in order to maximize positive impacts
on student progress; and
(B) Detail how:
(i) The Department of Education, working in conjunction with local school systems
and other public schools, the Office of Student Achievement, and the regional
educational services agencies (RESAs), will provide state-wide coordinated support
</ins>
<ins>for summer literacy programs offered by local school systems and other public
schools to students in kindergarten through grade three;
(ii) Existing state and federal funding sources may be used for purposes of the
program;
(iii) Additional appropriations by the General Assembly would be used for purposes
of the program;
(iv) Students who are identified as significantly at risk of not attaining grade level
reading proficiency, as provided for in Code Section 20-2-153.1, will receive
prioritized supports; and
(v) Student progress will be measured and reported by local school systems and other
public schools to the Department of Education.
(2) The plan required by paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be provided by
November 1, 2026 to the chairpersons of the House Committee on Education, the Senate
Education and Youth Committee, the House Committee on Appropriations, and the
Senate Appropriations Committee.</ins> <del>Reserved."
</del> SECTION 2.
Said All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.