Atlanta News First - School districts across Georgia are scrambling to meet a July deadline to train thousands of teachers in a new set of curricula intended to help improve literacy rates. The mandate is connected to a new law passed by the state legislature in intended to overhaul how children learn to read to address a state-wide education crisis: By fourth grade, only one in three children can read proficiently in Georgia, according to a state assessment. One metro Atlanta school district that embraced its tenets early has seen its literacy rates soar.
Over the past few years, third grade reading scores at the Marietta City School District have increased five times higher than the state average.
The success spans across all demographics. Black, disabled and economically disadvantaged students all saw double-digit gains in proficient literacy rates. Burruss Elementary School in Marietta. Literacy coaches help train teachers in the science of reading. Two years ago, the district also hired 37 reading specialists. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Scott Johnson to chair the task force. He previously served as the 11th congressional district representative on the State Board of Education.
The mission is personal for the former Georgia Department of Education chairman, whose grandson, Luke, has dyslexia. The Sandra Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy conducted the survey for the state to create a district inventory to assess progress toward implementing the new mandates. Nearly half of the districts in the survey had not selected a core reading program. Skip to content. Young Thug Trial. Better Call Harry. Restaurant Report Card. ANF Investigates.
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