SB596: SB596 "Quality Basic Education Act"; 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; require

Georgia law currently has a reserved (empty) section for grants under the Quality Basic Education Act. This bill fills that section by requiring the State Board of Education to create a statewide program supporting summer literacy programs for students in kindergarten through third grade, run by local school systems and other public schools. Local school systems and public schools that want grant funding would apply to the Department of Education, describing their summer literacy program, their use of reading-science-based materials, how they measure student progress, and how they prioritize students at risk of falling behind in reading. By November 1, 2026, the Department of Education must consult with school systems, the Office of Student Achievement, and regional educational service agencies to write an implementation plan, including a funding request, and send that plan to four legislative committees.

• Requires the State Board of Education to create a statewide coordinated program supporting summer literacy programs for students in kindergarten through third grade.
• Directs the program to include grants for local school systems and other public schools that choose to apply.
• Requires applicants to detail their program, their use of reading-science-based instructional materials, how they track student progress, and how they support struggling readers.
• Requires the Department of Education to consult with school systems, the Office of Student Achievement, and regional educational service agencies to build an implementation plan by November 1, 2026.
• Requires that implementation plan, including a funding request, to be sent to the House and Senate education and appropriations committees.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with these new requirements.

Local school systems and public schools that want to offer or expand summer literacy programs, students in kindergarten through third grade (especially those at risk of falling behind in reading), the Department of Education, the Office of Student Achievement, regional educational service agencies (RESAs), and four legislative committees that will receive the implementation plan.

If enacted, schools could apply for state grants to run summer reading programs for young students, and the state would build a coordinated support system rather than leaving summer literacy efforts entirely up to individual districts. The plan's funding request could shape future state budget decisions on reading support.

• Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 20-2-255, previously a reserved (blank) section, to require the State Board of Education to establish a statewide summer literacy support program for grades K through 3.
• Subsection (b) requires applicant school systems to submit a form covering their program design, use of science-based reading instruction, progress measurement, and support for at-risk readers.
• Subsection (c)(1) requires the Department of Education to consult with school systems, the Office of Student Achievement, and RESAs by November 1, 2026 to develop an implementation plan.
• The plan must include a request for state funding (appropriations) and a proposal for how to award grants to maximize impact on student progress.
• The plan must detail how existing state and federal funds and any additional appropriations would be used, and how at-risk students identified under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-153.1 receive prioritized support.
• Subsection (c)(2) requires the completed plan to be delivered by November 1, 2026 to the House Education Committee, Senate Education and Youth Committee, House Appropriations Committee, and Senate Appropriations Committee.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-26Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-25Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)Primary sponsor
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)

• summer literacy programs
• K-3 reading
• education funding
• Quality Basic Education Act
• school grants