[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6686168,"mediaKeyId","2369523-0eeb579876297e661dba8f5e2e49d4a8","parentId",2369523,"title","Committee approves literacy measure aligning early screening and banning \"three-cueing\" practices","audioSeconds",1285,"startMs",3300000,"endMs",4585000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2369523-0eeb579876297e661dba8f5e2e49d4a8&start=3300&end=4585","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2369523-0eeb579876297e661dba8f5e2e49d4a8/thumbnail_3300000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6686168/Georgia/Committee-approves-literacy-measure-aligning-early-screening-and-banning-three-cueing-practices","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6686168-791fdbd2541b88fff0c09c4652692d08/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151249&Signature=OyhxxrEukJ0ui8f4D6YrYRJ2BkBk94NOlcHcbw7cqaAfz2B1QLAxAIkRlFCHUTYd~VZgKoBlIoqfZ8OQ~LBqNahb39JYjwBy3u9uMixKinIJ7yCwx2HYkrVbSUGAwQ-LliOHpF9TRL5EhqrLdZTFmdG8mmwU-Zf4YWQkL4EZp1gW-1Hmc9M7OUS46VDH533lsqkkyGy9bbTFlOIr9gn2Nt9UG6KAm9miWNdp~Rs4poIQ2GP3h-k7eUk8yxSDC1CJu3sncdgPq5VDP0ePdpJYpwdUiEBrd3H7DsoNHGDQIgaKe4A6FJqHf9yHXqQ4o~8VFJEMjOx2jKzaM2f9w9-PdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-02-21T12:11:54.473Z","article","The House Education Committee approved LC492249S, a bill described by its sponsor as a continuation of prior literacy priorities and a further alignment of existing law to the science of reading.

The sponsor said the measure \"removes some outdated language of programs that do not align with the science of reading standards\" and \"prevents three-cueing from being used in Georgia,\" adding dyslexia to the Georgia Early Literacy Act and clarifying screening requirements.

Witnesses and stakeholders provided legislative and classroom context. Scott Johnson, chair of the Georgia Council on Literacy, and Sarah Richards, Georgia's literacy coach, said the measure combined and aligned language from prior bills (House Bill 538 and Senate Bill 48) to clarify screening and reduce duplication for schools. The committee heard that an approved list of vetted screeners will be available for the next school year and that the state will offer one free screener to districts.

The bill requires screening for reading difficulties and characteristics of dyslexia on a streamlined schedule: reading difficulties will be screened three times during the school year, and the aligned process aims to reduce the burden of multiple, separate screening instruments on teachers. In committee exchanges, staff and witnesses confirmed the intention that one screener list should cover both reading difficulties and dyslexia characteristics so schools would not have to buy separate products.

Parents, advocates and educators testified in support. Chrissy (Missy) Purcell and Beth Haynes (state leader for Decoding Dyslexia) described classroom consequences of using three-cueing and urged the committee to adopt the ban. A first-grade teacher quoted in testimony described switching to structured literacy and said the change \"transformed\" teachers' lives and student outcomes.

During questioning, members asked about implementation capacity and training. Department of Education representatives and advocates said training and teacher-preparation changes were underway and that a free screener would be provided to school districts; additional approved screeners would be on a vetted list if districts choose to purchase them.

The committee voted to pass the committee substitute. Sponsors and witnesses emphasized alignment across prior measures, streamlined screening, support for dyslexia identification, and removing instructional approaches inconsistent with structured literacy.

Votes at a glance: LC492249S (committee substitute) ' Committee action: passed by voice vote; mover/second not specified in transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Education Subcommittee 02 20 25","oneSentenceSummary","The committee passed LC492249S, a literacy bill that streamlines reading-difficulty and dyslexia screening, adds dyslexia to the Georgia Early Literacy Act, and specifies that \"three-cueing\" methods are not to be included in high-quality instructional materials.","taxTitle","Education, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",16944,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6686173,"Committee approves \"bell to bell, no cell\" K-8 bill after extended testimony from educators and superintendent",2705,572000,3277000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2369523-0eeb579876297e661dba8f5e2e49d4a8&start=572&end=3277","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2369523-0eeb579876297e661dba8f5e2e49d4a8/thumbnail_572000.jpg","/articles/6686173/Georgia/Committee-approves-bell-to-bell-no-cell-K-8-bill-after-extended-testimony-from-educators-and-superintendent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6686173-4eb28d930124d92ff1b6a84e93970a4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151249&Signature=UQHC0~PV6nJDdcGcTVAT-M11OoGUJXPBGLkPuEc6U6NZJKsuskwoS3SJJRYg-4VcP5OfojhLtJ3yA2H0vueFnGdMchKjEiEBv1fs4GNyoO6fULM-kaEtu5yBbc0BtHNG17BYTvB64UT5p8vP2cepSUSmw1otdvz9bg2Bk0gOGoo47W73fFZnkwBf~eGWv~crn9UrHQPYL-EB07rE~fP-BC7Gq9O3PVRloxNvzLl8XjIb7x3ck9yg~sSXn0VQyhXBRwYMTNSab3vL7kv3B5wbp0NJJjAzey0a4OPjwgwGF7Hw8NLl7xkVkRgwN1VtNWLdwaCcVAkRkBr9mSzmmelEuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee voted to advance HB 340 (filed as LC492272S) after a broad discussion that included the bill's sponsor, educators, a superintendent and students. Representative Hilton, the bill's sponsor, described the legislation as \"bell to bell, no cell\" for kindergarten through eighth grade and said it aims to reduce classroom distractions and improve academic performance and safety.

Representative Hilton said the measure is intended for K-8 and aims to establish school-day norms: \"If you go beginning of the school day to end of the school day...this is for K through 8.\" He told the committee he had consulted public safety experts and the Sheriff's Association and argued restricting phones could reduce confusion during emergencies.

The bill text includes exceptions for students with individualized education programs (IEPs) and for virtual charter students, and it clarifies that school-owned devices used for instruction are permitted. During questioning, the sponsor said the legislation intentionally leaves implementation details to local districts and school systems.

Committee testimony included remote and in-person speakers who cited research and local outcome data. Miranda Williams of ExcelinEd said a Texas classroom experiment showed \"in 1 45 minute class period, there were 9 disruptions per student\" when phones were audible. She also said at least 19 states enacted or funded statewide restrictions in 2024 and that more than half of states were considering similar measures.

Grant Rivera, superintendent of Marietta City Schools (joining remotely), described results after limiting phone access in middle grades: \"22 percent of our kids report that their classrooms were better this year than they were a year ago...68% of our middle school teachers...said they're better able to do their job and they're less stressed.\" Rivera said Marietta used pouches and provided the cost: \"They are $25.50 a piece.\" He also reported improvements in behavior, attendance and extracurricular focus.

Other witnesses echoed these results and urged broader adoption. Sally Stanhope, a Chamblee High School teacher, and Margaret Ciccarelli of PAGE (educator association) urged extending the approach to high school in the future but supported starting with K-8 to build a culture change. Several students spoke: one middle-school-age student supported phone-free periods but asked for access during lunch; a Dunwoody High student raised concerns about high-school logistics and access when students have jobs or extracurricular commitments.

Committee members discussed staged implementation and funding options. Representative Lupton asked whether the bill could include a phased rollout or a later effective date for grades 9-12; the sponsor said a staged implementation could be considered. The sponsor noted districts could use existing safety funds or local resources to purchase storage solutions and suggested the committee could consider amendments for limited funding assistance.

The committee approved the bill on a voice vote. Committee members and witnesses emphasized the local-control approach in the bill text (allowing district-selected storage methods such as pouches or locked boxes) and restated exceptions for IEPs and virtual students.

Key provisions and clarifications from the hearing:
- Coverage: K-8 school day (\"bell to bell\").
- Exceptions: students with IEPs, virtual charter students, and use of school-owned instructional devices.
- Local implementation: districts choose how to store/secure phones (pouches, boxes, lockers); bill intentionally avoids prescriptive implementation details.
- Reported outcomes cited in testimony: Marietta City Schools reported a 22% share of students saying classrooms were improved and 68% of middle-school teachers reporting reduced stress; outside examples included reported decreases in disciplinary incidents and small increases in attendance and grades.

The committee record shows the bill passed the committee and will proceed to the full House; no roll-call vote was recorded in the committee transcript.","The House Education Committee passed HB 340 (LC492272S) directing K-8 schools to restrict student cell-phone use during the school day, with exceptions for IEPs, virtual charter students and school-owned devices; committee heard testimony from state stakeholders and a Marietta superintendent who provided cost and outcome data.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6686178,"Committee OKs bill encouraging schools to facilitate Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts access",241,86000,327000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2369523-0eeb579876297e661dba8f5e2e49d4a8&start=86&end=327","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2369523-0eeb579876297e661dba8f5e2e49d4a8/thumbnail_86000.jpg","/articles/6686178/Georgia/Committee-OKs-bill-encouraging-schools-to-facilitate-Boy-Scouts-and-Girl-Scouts-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6686178-6c4dee6556acb215db045ad6f73e3e83/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151249&Signature=WiSKlJGlXXvzEqURtmvmvv~OXL5UkuaRy9-yCSZSeyWJ6vdCXraBtuq65dQEvKmc14GMC5D-OKjeLZmevu924i5ovcwwS0XFMqH02ICN3r3Q-IvWoEOJbr8nhC9s0zI1aY447Dp74fJ~g~Mfld846g9mfMOUORJECAQP7mi9yQBdraW49pDJgbQ-EXl7rRPv-FepqCB8e6ZHQaYXVwjvdkkpNK4QRQM6bvjSWCSxg7U18C8p~JUzqezWe1xrcFygXwtmMq1xMvc5ogv0~WLdz69Mlvi~vS7~eCjbwyV5Sm~bJtGcrauXKixV0aetEDA0OHhNcG1IeeGzmZJo5fv~fw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee advanced HB 198 on a voice vote after a brief presentation from the bill's sponsor, Representative Chastain. The bill, filed as LC620116S, lists the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts among organizations identified in Title 36 of the U.S. Code as \"patriotic societies\" and asks schools to facilitate those groups' access to students for programs that encourage civic education.

Representative Chastain said the measure \"is really about just trying to encourage some the schools to facilitate access for students to hear from the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts, participate in in the activities provided that they do in encouraging civic education.\" He noted that the bill passed the state senate in the prior year but did not reach final House action before adjournment.

The bill preserves local control: \"the school principal still retains discretion on when they can engage students,\" Chastain said. Committee members asked clarifying questions about the legal reference; Chastain identified the statutory list as appearing in Title 36 of the U.S. Code.

There were no registered public speakers on the measure, and the committee approved the bill on a voice vote. The transcript records the chair calling for the question and members responding \"aye,\" followed by the chair saying the bill was \"on to full.\" No roll-call tally was recorded in the committee transcript.

The measure does not change school curriculum mandates, nor does it compel schools to introduce specific content; rather it encourages facilitation of outreach by organizations the bill lists and leaves scheduling and operational choices to school principals.

Action and next steps: HB 198 will move to the full House for further consideration; the committee record indicates passage at the committee stage but contains no committee amendments or a recorded roll-call vote.

Votes at a glance: HB 198 (LC620116S) ' Committee action: passed by voice vote; recorded mover/second not specified; roll-call tally not specified.","The House Education Committee advanced HB 198, a short bill urging schools to allow Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to engage students for civic education, with principals retaining discretion over timing and access.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves literacy measure aligning early screening and banning "three-cueing" practices

Committee approves "bell to bell, no cell" K-8 bill after extended testimony from educators and superintendent

Committee OKs bill encouraging schools to facilitate Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts access