Governor Brian Kemp has signed a $70 million education bill, known as the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, which will fund the addition of 1,300 literacy coaches to all of Georgia's public elementary schools.
Lawmakers said the bill was prompted by data showing 62% of Georgia third graders don't read proficiently, according to the Georgia Council on Literacy.
House Bill 1193, which was listed as a priority for the legislative session by Speaker Jon Burns, will also provide additional literacy resources for teachers, allow schools to hold back first graders who don't read at grade level, and create a statewide literacy task force.
"Today's signing of the Early Literacy Act of 2026 marks a historic step forward for Georgia's children and our state's future success," Speaker Burns said in a press release published by Gov. Kemp's office Tuesday. "This landmark legislation equips our students, teachers, and parents with the resources they need to strengthen literacy outcomes and ensure every child in Georgia has the opportunity to learn to read."
Georgia schools will have access to the funding starting in July, in time for the new school year.
On the same day, Gov. Kemp signed eight other bills related to education, including one to extend the cellphone ban in schools to high school.
Additionally, Georgia schools offering after-school programs must also now offer those same programs to Pre-K students and schools must dedicate at least one hour per day to core math instruction to fourth and fifth graders.
Kemp also extended the Return-to-Work program for educators to 2030 in the hopes of bringing more teachers back to the profession in Georgia.
"Here in the No. 1 state for business and opportunity, our classrooms must be safe learning environments that serve as launching pads for success in the workforce," Kemp said in a press release. "The bills I signed today implement proven strategies to improve literacy and math scores, reduce distractions in the classroom, expand pathways to graduation, and further support hardworking educators and families."
