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House committee advances bill to standardize literacy coaching, add dyslexia to state law
Summary
The Georgia House education committee voted to give HB307 a "do pass" recommendation after a discussion on removing outdated reading methods, defining dyslexia, and creating a statewide literacy coach coordinator to standardize training across districts.
Representative Ballard, chairwoman of the curriculum group, told the House education committee that HB307 (LC492276S) aims to build on earlier literacy work and align classroom practice with the 2023 science of reading standards. "We can do much better than the 30% proficiency level that we have arrived at," Ballard said, arguing that some current curricula "do not align with the science of reading."
The bill would remove statutory language tied to outdated programs, clarify that three‑cueing methods are not to be used as a primary means of instruction, add dyslexia to the Georgia early literacy act and define dyslexia characteristics, and create a Georgia coach coordination council and a literacy coach coordinator inside the Office of Student Achievement to standardize training for literacy coaches. "We want everything to be standardized for our students, especially if they move," Ballard said, noting state and federal funding currently support coaches in different ways.
Sarah Richards, identified in the presentation as the Georgia reading literacy coach, and the literacy council contributed recommendations incorporated into the proposal, Ballard said. Committee members asked how many coaches and how much funding the changes would require; Ballard and staff said 60 federally funded coaches were already in place for struggling schools and that the proposal would add roughly 86 coaches statewide. One speaker estimated an overall appropriation ask of about $1,010,000,000 to implement the broader plan, though speakers acknowledged that figure covers both new hires and existing funds.
Committee members also asked how the literacy council and existing statutes (including prior bills cited as part of the 2023 effort) fit with HB307; Ballard referenced earlier measures that created the council and related structures. Supporters, including members who said they knew families affected by dyslexia, praised the bill’s emphasis on coaching, training and standardized supports.
At the close of debate, a committee member moved that HB307 receive a do‑pass recommendation; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The transcript reflects a voice vote and the chair declared the motion carried.
