Another Georgia legislative initiative this year seeks to build on prior efforts to increase the reading and writing performance of young students.

“We must teach our children to read,” Rep. Chris Erwin, R-Homer, chairman of the House Education committee, said Monday about the new initiative. “We must have the belief that all of our children can read on grade level.”

Erwin is the chief co-sponsor of House Bill 1193, which is backed by leaders in both the House and Senate. The Senate even has its own version of essentially the same bill.

The Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 would require sweeping changes, from mandatory curriculum and teacher training to routine testing and state-funded tutoring for children. The legislation also would encourage but not require kindergarten attendance. Students who skipped kindergarten and then failed a literacy test would have to start in kindergarten even if they were old enough for first grade.

One of the most far-reaching proposals would amend the state education funding formula. The legislation would send state money to every school district to hire a classroom literacy coach in each school that has kindergarten through third grade classrooms. (K-3 schools with fewer than 200 students would only get a part-time coach though.)

The wholistic approach is necessary because teaching and learning to read is difficult work, said Erwin, a retired school superintendent. “So it’s got to be planned; it’s got to be precise.”

The Legislature has not yet published a cost associated with the initiative.

But House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington, said at the start of this year’s legislative session that literacy was among his top agenda items this year, a position he reiterated last week. He said the state was prepared to pay for classroom reinforcements.

“How many Georgians would be leading happy, healthy, fulfilling lives if they had only been able to read?” he asked at a news conference.

A House subcommittee voted unanimously Monday to send HB 1193 to the House Education committee. Before the vote, several parents commented favorably, including Jeremy Hendrix from Gwinnett County, who said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the legislation.

“It is amazing what you are doing and especially in this political climate where we can see everybody get behind one cart and push in the same direction,” he said. “I really appreciate that and it makes my heart happy as a citizen.”

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