Georgia's concerted push to elevate literacy took a formative leap as its Regional Education Service Agencies (RESA) Network hosted the inaugural training event for literacy coaches this past July 23 - July 25, at Central Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins. According to an article from Senate Press, the Let’s Read Georgia Literacy Coaches’ Training event assembled a significant number of literacy focused professionals, including 56 literacy coaches from across the state, and was graced by political and educational heavyweights—among them were Sen. Billy Hickman, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher Education, and Rep. Chris Erwin.
During the event's kick-off, not only politicians but also esteemed educational figures made their presence felt; the current State Teacher of the Year, Holly Witcher, and representatives from various corners of Georgia’s academic sphere, like the Georgia Council on Literacy and the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, were in attendance. The approved plans that have now been set into action—and the magic of beginnings signaled the community's recognition of literacy as the cornerstone of educational success, the funding for this literacy coaching initiative was earmarked in the FY 2025 Budget approved by the Georgia Legislature.
The prescribed mission for these regional literacy coaches, as reported by Senate Press, is multifaceted, including the provision of on-site teacher training, structured literacy demonstration lessons and helpful immediate feedback to refine instructional practices. More than simply a guideline, these allocated responsibilities form a blueprint for the implementation of a foundational literacy skills program that is rooted deeply in the science of reading and evidence-based decision-making.
The legislative groundwork for this literacy initiative, dated back to May of this year, when a collective of Senate and House legislators presented and then approved the detailed plan for the RESA regional literacy coaches; this formal march towards change was then completed when the RESA executive committee met with their counterparts from the Georgia Literacy Council for the final green light, guaranteeing a much-needed focus on literacy education at a regional level within the state of Georgia.
