Monthly update, 2022 December

Examples: Georgia is making literacy a focus and priority

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Dear Partners, Colleagues and Friends,
During this giving season, the gift of reading provides a child/adult a journey to a healthy and long life. For our December newsletter, we decided to provide information about ways school systems, nonprofit organizations and the Governor's Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) are making literacy a focus and priority.
Our workforce is the theme of so many meetings we attend these days. The connection between reading skills and work is coming to the forefront. Literacy skills have always been foundational to a livable wage and healthy lives, but now, more than ever, when artificial intelligence, robotics and other yet-to-be discovered skills require employees to possess reading skills allowing them to continuously learn and adapt to new environments.
Speaker David Ralston was an advocate for education and literacy improvements. He will forever be remembered for his gentle, but firm, leadership, and his collaborative work to accomplish the mental health parity bill. In one of his last endeavors, Speaker Ralston appointed members to the House Study Committee on Literacy. GOSA is honored to be serving on this committee and appreciate the House leadership for keeping this issue at the forefront.
Finally, during the holidays, especially, take time to read and talk to children. They will love every minute of it, and you will enjoy the sweet hugs.
All the best this holiday season, Joy
1/3/2023, 9:18 AM

Examples: Georgia is making literacy a focus and priority

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House Study Committee on Literacy

House Resolution 650, passed during the 2022 Session of the Georgia General Assembly, created a study committee on literacy. The study committee's chair, Rep. Matt Dubnik, has held two meetings and heard from many individuals who have interest in this committee's work. A

report with recommendations was due December 1. Rep. Dubnik recently shared, however, that

the committee will continue to meet for the next six months, beginning January 23.

Growing Readers In its seventh evaluated year, Growing Readers, administered collaboratively by GOSA and Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) and implemented through the Regional Education Service Association network, is improving kindergarten-third grade reading by providing professional learning and coaching to teachers on best reading practices for their students. View this video to learn more about Growing Readers.

Bulloch County's Literacy Work Great things are happening around literacy in Bulloch County! A few years ago, Bulloch County Schools decided to bring a new focus to its community; helping children establish solid reading skills before they enter kindergarten. Realizing that 90% of a child's brain is developed before age five, other organizations decided to join the school district in this effort, and the Bulloch County Literacy Council was formed.

The Literacy Council's purpose is to have a sustainable community collaborative that works to increase reading readiness for children from birth through kindergarten and to support the improvement of literacy levels for all children in their community. The Director of Early Learning and Literacy for Bulloch County Schools, Crystal Simpkins, says, "We realized there were a lot of groups doing good work to advance literacy improvements, but the missing link was to bring everyone together to work toward one shared goal. The formation of the Literacy Council provided a formal collaborative structure to sustain our efforts and increase our impact on literacy in the community." Focusing on the birth five-year old population and getting children ready for kindergarten was the brainchild of Superintendent Charles Wilson. His recognition of the need to support their community children before they enroll in Bulloch County Schools was both innovative and bold. Not many school systems realize that ensuring children are ready to learn by reading in the third grade starts well before they begin their formal education. Through

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Examples: Georgia is making literacy a focus and priority

https://mailchi.mp/gosa/news_122022?e=d65b1ef8b0

SubschriisbeguidancPea, sdtisItsriscut elesaders began inviting community literacy partners to the table to look atTranslate community data and discuss gaps in current services to this target population and the Literacy Council became a reality.
For more information about this community's literacy work, go to: https://www.bulloch.k12.ga.us /literacy
Adult Literacy and Workforce In October, the MAX Leadership Network hosted Sandeep Gill, Executive Director, Literacy Action, and Joy Hawkins, Executive Director, GOSA, to present information about the multiple ways adult low literacy impact the workforce and Georgia's economy. This partnership was developed through the work of the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Council chaired by GOSA and GaDOE. To learn more, view the presentation.

Happy Holidays! The staff at Governor's Office of Student Achievement wishes you a safe, healthy, and enjoyable holiday season.

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Examples: Georgia is making literacy a focus and priority

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Examples: Georgia is making literacy a focus and priority

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