Yesterday, Georgia witnessed a legislative move toward improving student literacy as Sen. RaShaun Kemp (D–Atlanta) celebrated the signing of his first bill into law. According to an announcement, Senate Bill 93 aims to reform reading instruction by aligning it with the science of reading, a strategy that Sen. Kemp believes will tackle the state’s literacy issues head-on.
"I am incredibly honored to see my first bill signed into law," Sen. Kemp shared in the statement on Georgia State Senate Press Office, his commitment to addressing Georgia's literacy crisis has now been firmly enacted in the state's legislature, the law charges the Georgia Professional Standards Commission with developing regulations that advocate for evidence-based reading instruction, especially targeted at supporting English language learners and students with learning disabilities. Gov. Brian P. Kemp, who backed the bill, highlighted the critical nature of aligning educator preparation programs with scientific insights on reading.
Under the specifics of Senate Bill 93, as mentioned in the press release, the Professional Standards Commission is tasked with instituting rules that bolster effective and research-based reading instruction within teacher education courses, these measures are anticipated to assist teachers in identifying and addressing reading challenges more promptly and effectively, employing methods responsive to the varying educational needs of students.
Surely, Sen. Kemp, along with stakeholders in Georgian education, sees this legislation as a pivotal step toward empowering educators and uplifting the state’s youth, "Literacy is the foundation of all learning, and this law guarantees we are doing everything we can to give our students the strongest start possible," the senator emphasized on Georgia State Senate Press Office.
