Addressing Education Needs in Georgia
Friends,
As a proud father and grandfather and the husband of an educator, I know what great educational opportunities we offer here in Georgia - particularly in the District 159.
That’s why I’m so proud of the work my colleagues are constantly doing to ensure that students across Georgia continue to have the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. Recently I was privileged to see firsthand the work of the Georgia Council on Literacy, which is working to do just that.
The Council was established during the General Assembly’s 2023 session by SB 211, which was carried in the House by Representative Bethany Ballard of Warner Robins. This legislation passed the House and Senate unanimously, and was signed into law by Governor Kemp on April 13th, becoming law on July 1st.
This legislation was originally introduced by my Senator, Billy Hickman of Statesboro. Senator Hickman represents much of the 159th District in the Senate, and has been a long time literacy advocate since before his 2020 election to the Senate, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee.
The council’s mission is straightforward - it was created to conduct “comprehensive reviews of birth to postsecondary programs, the alignment of state support for such programs, and other issues relating to improving the literacy outcomes of Georgia students.”
The members of the new council - 30 Georgians from around our state including educators with a focus on literacy and policy makers - were recently appointed by the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and myself.
I am proud to have appointed Dr. Yancy Ford, Carlett Fulcher and Dr. Whit Myers to the Council. These local educators have devoted their careers toward student achievement and I believe have much to offer others across the state regarding literacy education.
My other appointees to the Council include literacy advocate Jeanne Seaver and Chairman Chris Erwin of Homer; Chairman Chuck Martin of Alpharetta; Chairman Matt Hatchett of Dublin; Representative Al Williams of Midway; and Representative Becky Evans of Atlanta.
Georgia Southern University in Statesboro was the host last week for the Council’s first full meeting. It was a privilege to be able to welcome the Council to Statesboro, where I had the opportunity to emphasize the importance of literacy. Georgia is accomplishing great things - but Georgians have to be able to read to take advantage of those opportunities.
Dayle was also able to address the council about opportunities to implement scientifically based reading research and practices in every county in Georgia. Her experience as an elementary school principal make her a strong advocate for literacy and all of our children. Her service on the GSU College of Education Advisory Board, along with the support of Dr. Sharon Subreenduth, Dean of the College of Education, gives her access to working at the university level to prioritize how teachers are trained.
The Council has some hard work ahead of it, including the implementation of HB 538, the Georgia Early Literacy Act, authored by Representative Bethany Ballard. The Act requires that Georgia implement the science of reading when it comes to teaching - using methods that lead to success for our students.
I’m excited about the work that the Georgia Council on Literacy has ahead of it. Work that will improve opportunities for all Georgians, ensuring that no one is left behind in the effort to increase literacy in all corners of our state.
As the Council begins its work, don’t hesitate to reach out with questions about my service as your Representative or as Speaker of the House, or with your thoughts about educational opportunities in Georgia. You can contact me at 404.656.5020, Jon.Burns@house.ga.gov, or on Facebook at www.FB.com/JonBurnsGA. If you wish to sign up for my weekly emailed newsletter, visit https://www.friendsofjonburns.com/home to sign up.