Georgia Lawmakers Pass Landmark Literacy Overhaul

Bill backed by House Speaker's wife aims to boost reading proficiency in state's public schools

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Georgia lawmakers have passed legislation that would overhaul the state's approach to reading instruction in public schools. The proposed Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 would fund a literacy coach in every elementary school, require kindergarten attendance before first grade, and allow schools to more easily hold back first graders not reading at grade level. The bill has bipartisan support and was championed by the wife of Georgia's House Speaker, Dayle Burns, a former teacher and principal.

Why it matters

Georgia has struggled with low literacy rates, with only one in three fourth graders reading proficiently according to national assessments. The new legislation aims to address this crisis by providing more resources and training for teachers, as well as setting stricter requirements around early grade retention. Improving literacy is seen as crucial for students' long-term academic and life outcomes.

The details

The Georgia Early Literacy Act would fund a literacy coach in every elementary school to help train teachers in effective reading instruction. It would also require children to attend kindergarten before entering first grade, and allow schools to more easily hold back first graders who are not reading at grade level. The bill passed the House and is moving through the state legislature. Lawmakers say the legislation is the most significant education reform since the HOPE scholarship program in 1992.

  • The Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 was introduced in early February 2026.
  • The bill passed the Georgia House and is currently moving through the state legislature.

The players

Chris Erwin

Republican state representative and chairman of the House Education Committee, who called the bill "the most meaningful and impactful education legislation the General Assembly has championed since the Hope scholarship in 1992."

RaShaun Kemp

Democratic state senator who said "This bill is critically important. We have to continue to build on the work that we've put forward to make sure our kids are reading. When you have only one out of three kids reading on grade level, that's a crisis."

Jon Burns

Republican Georgia House Speaker who credited his wife, Dayle Burns, as a driving force behind the literacy legislation.

Dayle Burns

Former teacher and elementary school principal in Effingham County, and the wife of Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns, who helped champion the literacy reform bill.

Decoding Dyslexia Georgia

A Georgia parent advocacy group that said the legislation is a step forward but falls short in several areas, particularly for students with dyslexia.

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What they’re saying

“This bill is critically important. We have to continue to build on the work that we've put forward to make sure our kids are reading. When you have only one out of three kids reading on grade level, that's a crisis.”

— RaShaun Kemp, Democratic state senator (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“We would not be here today without the passion and commitment from my wife, Dayle. She pointed out the obvious that we've neglected our future, and that's our young people.”

— Jon Burns, Republican Georgia House Speaker (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“This is the one thing I know. [Jon Burns] can talk about roads and pipelines. This is just my thing.”

— Dayle Burns, Former teacher and elementary school principal (atlantanewsfirst.com)

What’s next

The Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 still needs to pass the state Senate before being signed into law by the governor.

The takeaway

Georgia's landmark literacy reform legislation, championed by the House Speaker's wife and backed by bipartisan support, aims to dramatically improve reading proficiency in the state's public schools by providing more resources and training for teachers, as well as setting stricter requirements around early grade retention. The bill's passage represents a significant step forward in addressing the state's longstanding literacy crisis.