Georgia Literacy Council: Literacy is Georgia’s Most “Solvable Problem”

MARIETTA — The Georgia Council on Literacy is taking new steps to raise Georgia’s literacy rate.

Council Chairman Scott Johnson promoted the team’s latest campaign, Georgia Reads, during the Cobb County Republican Women’s Club’s monthly luncheon Friday.

The club invited Johnson to the luncheon as part of its “Caring for America” program that aims to give back to the community through donations to different organizations.

Georgia Reads is a collaboration project between the Council on Literacy, created last year by the Georgia General Assembly, and the Share the Magic Foundation that aims to raise awareness on improving reading skills across the state.

“Most of our children going from the third grade to the fourth grade are not proficient to be ready for their future, and it affects the rest of their lives,” Johnson said.

During his talk, Johnson called for donations to support the council’s initiatives. Johnson said the job of the council is to change the trajectory of literacy in the state, and that it will take time to see the results.

“It is our most solvable problem in the state of Georgia,” Johnson said. “...and in the end, we are going to solve this problem in our state for our kids, and our adults and for our future.”

The luncheon also featured a panel discussion titled the “ABC’s of Georgia Public Education.”

The panel featured John Floresta, Cobb County School District’s chief strategy and accountability officer; Mark Peevy, Technical College System of Georgia’s chief of staff; and Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods. The discussion was moderated by Ian Caraway, director of policy for Gov. Brian Kemp.

During the discussion, the group emphasized the state and county’s efforts to “keep schools focused on education.”

According to Floresta, the Cobb County School District spent 94% of its budget in 2023 on teachers in order to provide better opportunities for students.

“We think that (teachers are) the most important service we are providing to you. A high-quality education by high-quality teachers,” Floresta said.

Woods also took a moment to honor educators by calling them leaders in the classroom.

“Those twenty-something kids that enter your classroom each and every day, you’re going to take them some place,” Woods said. “We want to make sure the place you take them is the best place where they can thrive and be successful.”