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Lee County says it is largely aligned with proposed Georgia Early Literacy Act but lacks full‑time coaches at every school
Summary
Senior director Katie Pepper told the board that draft House Bill 1193 and Senate Bill 459 (the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 in draft form) focus on universal screening, literacy coaching and high‑quality materials; Lee County officials said the district already implements many components but does not yet have a full‑time literacy coach at each primary and elementary school.
Katie Pepper, senior director of elementary leadership and learning, briefed the board March 9 on recent changes and drafts in Georgia literacy legislation and on how Lee County is responding.
Pepper said the two draft measures — House Bill 1193, which emphasizes coaching endorsements and classroom coaching time, and Senate Bill 459, which includes possible revisions to retention and grade placement rules and a unified literacy plan — are being discussed at the state level as part of what presenters called the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026. She told the board Lee County has been screening students and implementing interventions since earlier state requirements and that the district already uses high‑quality instructional materials aligned to state guidance.
“Lee County is already aligned with major literacy requirements that are currently involved in law,” Pepper said, while noting the district does not yet have a full‑time literacy coach at every primary and elementary school and currently shares coaching support across campuses. She summarized the district’s next steps as continuing universal screening, supporting teachers with interventions and monitoring proposed state changes.
Board members did not take action on the legislation itself but asked staff to continue to monitor draft bills and report any changes that would require local action.
