Committee approves literacy measure to add dyslexia to Early Literacy Act and ban "three‑cueing"

A House committee approved LC492249S, a bill sponsors described as a streamlining and alignment of Georgia’s literacy laws that adds dyslexia to the Georgia Early Literacy Act, requires unified screening for reading difficulties and dyslexia three times each school year and prohibits the instructional strategy commonly called "three‑cueing."

The bill’s presenter said the measure removes outdated language, prevents three‑cueing curricula from being included in high-quality instructional materials and implements recommendations from the Georgia Council on Literacy. "It removes some outdated language of programs that do not align with the science of reading standards," the presenter said.

Representatives of the Georgia Council on Literacy and the Department of Education described the measure as a joint effort to reduce duplication and make implementation simpler for schools. Sarah Richards, Georgia’s literacy coach, and Scott Johnson, chair of the Georgia Council on Literacy, said a single vetted list of screening instruments will be available for schools and that the State Board of Education has approved a list of high-quality screeners for the next school year. Witnesses said the Department of Education will offer one free screener to districts, and committee testimony clarified that the single list and the offered screener are intended to allow schools to screen simultaneously for general reading difficulties and characteristics of dyslexia without purchasing separate tools.

Advocates and teachers who testified described classroom harm from three‑cueing and urged the committee to ban its use. Missy Purcell, a parent and former educator, told the committee: "Skilled reading comes from decoding words, not guessing. Three‑cueing is guessing." Teachers who have adopted structured‑literacy approaches described improved student outcomes and urged continued statewide alignment and support. Lisonbee Taylor, a first‑grade teacher in Marietta City Schools, said structured literacy transformed classroom instruction and urged lawmakers to confirm that "three‑cueing is no longer an acceptable practice."

Committee members asked about screener availability and capacity; witnesses said the Department will provide a free screener option and that teacher training and candidate preparation are ongoing efforts to build capacity. The bill was approved by committee on a voice vote and advanced to the full chamber.