Georgia Council on Literacy Community Working Group - August 2024

The Georgia Council on Literacy Community Working Group met virtually Aug. 12 and discussed subcommittee goals as well as the Georgia Reads campaign.  Group members were joined by Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) staff, including new team member Sarah Richards, Georgia Literacy Coach.   

Georgia Reads Day Sept. 30

Gov. Brian P. Kemp has proclaimed Sept. 30 as Georgia Reads Day. Organizers encourage Georgians to read to children, share important literacy data with their networks, embrace the science of reading, and help amplify Georgia Reads messages.

At 1 p.m. on Sept. 30, educators, students, and families can tune into Georgia Public Broadcasting for a live reading rally from the Georgia Football Hall of Fame with the Georgia Reads Coach, Malcolm Mitchell.

More from the Georgia Reads Website

Georgia Reads Award Application Coming Soon

In addition to updating working group members on plans for Georgia Reads Day, Irene Munn updated members on the upcoming Georgia Reads Grant Award application process. She reported that each working group member received an embargoed draft of the award application. The award amount is $25,000, of which $5,000 will be set aside for external evaluation. The application will go live on the Georgia Reads website Sept. 30, and winning partners will be notified in February. Winners will be recognized at the state Capitol later that month and will receive a visit from Mitchell. 

Munn stressed that successful award applicants should demonstrate evidence-based literacy practices, community partnerships, needs assessment, three to five years of data collection, and a budget for how they intend to spend an award.

Community Working Group Goals

The working group reviewed strategies to expand community partnerships statewide, as outlined in a 2023 Literacy Report. Those strategies include:

• Defining community literacy partnerships

• Surveying current community partnerships

• Analyzing other states’ best practices

• Analyzing L4GA grant results

• Reviewing literature from the National Center for Family Learning

The group is also tasked with investigating strategies for community partnerships, how those partnerships are funded, and sharing effective strategies for community partnerships. The community working group is directed to determine implementation timelines and investigate grant opportunities for community participation.

Next Meetings Upcoming full Council on Literacy meetings are planned for Aug. 26 at Georgia College & State University and Nov. 19 at Lanier Technical College.