Superintendent of Clarke County School District Dr. Robbie Hooker says that 2022 data paints a “grim picture” of literacy rates in Georgia. Results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress suggest that only 32% of 4th graders in Georgia are at least proficient at reading. Public data for this metric is not available for county-level performance.
However, a different metric, the Georgia Milestones Reading Status, shows that while 56% of the state’s 4th graders are at least proficient at reading, only 42% of Clarke County students are proficient at reading.
In a video released on December 13th, Clarke County School District teachers and staff presented their plan to improve literacy rates in the county.
Dr. Hooker said in the video that a student’s reading level by 4th grade is an essential predictor of their educational success:
“Students' proficiency in reading at [Grade 4] can significantly impact their likelihood of graduating high school. Until now, the promise of literacy for all has not been realized.”
Dr. Jennifer Scott, Deputy Superintendent of Academic and Student Supports, outlined a major policy change related to literacy instruction in Georgia. House Bill 538, introduced by Representative Bethany Ballard (R-Warner-Robins), was passed in 2023 and created the Georgia Early Literacy Act. The law will require schools to provide high quality literacy materials to students in kindergarten through third grade, instruction programs for teachers to learn the “science of reading,” universal screenings for learning disorders, and tailored instruction for those who demonstrate reading deficiencies.
According to the video released by CCSD, school systems in Georgia will need to begin complying with the Georgia Early Literacy Act in 2025. Jennifer Hutcherson, a K-3 literacy coach at Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary School, said in the video that CCSD began implementing changes to literacy education in 2023.
CCSD says it’s ready to comply with the bill not out of obligation, but out of goals intrinsic to the organization.
Dr. Scott: “As a district we are committed to staying abreast of these developments and integrating them in our instructional practices to ensure that every student receives the support they need to become proficient readers and lifelong learners through collaboration with educators, families and community partners.”