GEORGIA - This summer marked a season of significant activity for the Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Strategy (GOEWS). GOEWS represented Georgia at the America 250 celebration in Washington, D.C., hosted the 2026 Governor's Honors Program at Georgia Southern University, and announced the state's Vision 2030 literacy plan, following the passage of House Bill 1193.

America 250

In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, the Governor's Office launched a statewide initiative to commemorate this the historic milestone. In support of that effort, GOEWS introduced “Georgia Reads for America 250,”, a statewide literacy campaign in partnership with public libraries across Georgia. GOEWS developed a commemorative limited edition library card and launched a statewide Beanstack reading challenge, to encourage Georgians of all ages to celebrate our nation's history by discovering the power of reading. 

Visit the Georgia Reads website for more information about Georgia Reads for America 250.

Governor's Honors Program

This summer, hundreds of the state's best and brightest rising high school juniors and seniors gathered at Georgia Southern University's Statesboro campus to take part in the Georgia Governor's Honors Program (GHP), a prestigious four-week residential summer program.

GHP provides students with academic, cultural, and social enrichment, and covers all tuition, fees, and boarding costs. Students apply to the program across a range of subjects in academic studies and the fine arts, and have the opportunity to further their personal and academic growth by selecting an additional elective outside their chosen major. 

More information can be found on the GHP webpage.

Vision 2030

Georgia's Literacy Plan, Vision 2030, is organized around three guiding principles: Every Child a Reader, Every Educator Prepared, and Every Community Supported. These principles set the overarching aspirations for the state's collective work to improve literacy outcomes and encompass seven goal areas, which are further defined by 16 specific objectives. Vision 2030 can be found on the Georgia Reads website. 

Implementing House Bill 1193

This summer, GOEWS also announced plans for the implementation of House Bill 1193, which advances Vision 2030 through the following provisions:

  • Literacy Coaches in Every School. The state will fund more than 1,300 full-time literacy coaches, with schools with fewer than 200 students receiving part-time coaching support.
  • Unified District Literacy Plans. School boards must finalize comprehensive, unified literacy plans by January 1, 2027.The plans will incorporate partnerships between school districts and community partners.
  • Literacy Coach Endorsement. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission must establish a literacy coach endorsement by December 30, 2026, setting minimum qualifications for literacy coaches statewide.
  • First-Grade Readiness. Families will be encouraged to enroll kindergarteners on time, and a first-grade readiness assessment will become mandatory for students enrolling in first grade.
  • Statewide Promotional Campaign. The Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Strategy will collaborate with the Department of Education, Department of Early Care and Learning, Department of Public Health, University System of Georgia, Technical College System of Georgia, Regional Educational Service Agencies, and local school systems to promote community and family literacy efforts statewide.

Policy, Research, and Accountability

  The second half of the year, GOEWS would like to thank Georgia’s school systems, legislators, and education partners for their continued collaboration and support. The Policy, Research, and Accountability division of GOEWS depends on strong relationships across stakeholders, and I do not take that for granted.

Looking ahead, the team is preparing to release several key deliverables in the coming months, including, the 2025 Teacher and Leader Workforce Report, Withdrawal Code Verification Audit, Direct Certification Rates, and Student Mobility Rates, along with several other accountability and research products. Those releases will reflect months of rigorous analysis, and we look forward to sharing the findings with you.  As always, we welcome feedback. Please don’t hesitate to contact GOEWS if you have questions about any upcoming releases or would like to contact the team.

 

 

Press Contact Details

 

External Affairs Coordinator:

Sara Marchman

[email protected]