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Georgia Builds Statewide Literacy Professional Learning Program
Demand grows for scaled coaching support to extend evidence-based literacy practices
Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:43pm
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Georgia has established the literacy training infrastructure required by the Georgia Early Literacy Act, positioning the state as a national leader in evidence-based literacy reform. The next step is scaling job-embedded literacy coaching, as state leaders, district superintendents, and educators call for alignment between the training and credentials of the coaches with the already established Georgia Literacy Academy (GLA).
Why it matters
When science of reading-aligned teacher professional learning is paired with job-embedded coaching, student outcomes improve rapidly. This integrated model has been recognized by state leadership for delivering double-digit reading gains in one year across 60 of Georgia's lowest-performing elementary schools.
The details
The Georgia Literacy Academy, established by the Georgia Department of Education, is powered by the International Dyslexia Association-accredited Cox Campus of the Rollins Center at the Atlanta Speech School. This public-private partnership represents a national model for teacher professional learning, delivering high-quality, evidence-based literacy training at no cost to the state, districts, schools or teachers.
- The Georgia Literacy Academy was established in fall 2023.
- HB1193 has outlined the next step of scaling job-embedded literacy coaching.
The players
Georgia Department of Education
The state education agency that established the Georgia Literacy Academy.
Rollins Center for Language & Literacy
A program of the Atlanta Speech School that powers the Georgia Literacy Academy and provides evidence-based professional learning for teachers.
Marietta City Schools
A district that partnered with the Rollins Center to build an embedded coaching model that has driven measurable gains for students.
Muscogee County Public Schools
A district that has partnered with the Rollins Center since 2023 with the goal of transforming literacy outcomes for their students.
Dr. Grant Rivera
Superintendent of Marietta City Schools.
Dr. David Lewis
Superintendent of Muscogee County Public Schools.
What they’re saying
“In Marietta, our literacy priority is simple and unwavering: follow the science and ensure every teacher has the training, time, and support to help every child reach their fullest reading and writing potential. In partnership with the Rollins Center for Language & Literacy, we built an embedded coaching model that lives in every classroom—strengthening instruction and driving measurable gains for students. We're proud to continue developing Marietta as a learning lab for this work, with the Cox Campus serving as a shared resource where districts across Georgia can access the tools, expertise, and practical learning needed to implement evidence-based literacy practices.”
— Dr. Grant Rivera, Superintendent, Marietta City Schools
“Muscogee County Public Schools has partnered with the Rollins Center since 2023 with a shared goal of transforming literacy outcomes for our students. Knowledge building through Cox Campus, integrated with the Rollins Center's coaching model, is strengthening classroom instruction and professional practice through our intentional three-year cohort implementation plan that will conclude this year. This work has directly supported our implementation of structured literacy during the three-year period and has been the central focus of instructional improvement at Brewer Early Innovation Academy, where students realized nearly two years of academic growth in literacy within a single school year. As Georgia expands its investment in literacy, we hope state-funded literacy coaches will be allowed to continue on this same path, so every district—and every child—has access to the same high-quality support and opportunity for success.”
— Dr. David Lewis, Superintendent, Muscogee County Public Schools
What’s next
With the professional learning infrastructure already in place and results already demonstrated, Georgia is uniquely positioned to strengthen early literacy instruction, improve reading proficiency, and maximize taxpayer value without duplicating costs.
The takeaway
Georgia's statewide literacy program, powered by the Rollins Center's Cox Campus, has established a national model for evidence-based teacher professional learning and coaching that is driving measurable gains in student reading outcomes. As the state expands its investment in literacy, aligning coaching support with this existing infrastructure could accelerate progress and ensure equitable access to high-quality literacy instruction for all students.
