>>> THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A PEER GET OF HARD WORK AND SIGNIFICANT RECOVERY.

IN EVERY LEVEL IN GEORGIA, THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THEY ARE EMERGING FROM THE FOG OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, ONLY TO BE CONFRONTED WITH NEW CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY TRULY CRUSHING FACELIFTS.

>> THE CHIEF OF JUSTICE FOR THE SUPREME COURT TALKS ABOUT OBSTACLES AS WELL AS HIS OPTIMISM ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

AGREEMENT.

WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS ON DAY 30 OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I AM DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

MORE ON THE STATE OF THE JUDICIARY IS COMING UP.

>>> THIRD GRADE IS THE BENCHMARK YEAR FOR EDUCATION.

RESEARCH SHOWS PERFORMANCE OF THIRD GRADE CAN DETERMINE HOW WELL THE CHILD IS IN LIFE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO READING LITERACY.

IT HELPS PREPARE THEM FOR THE WORKFORCE.

ON THE SHOW, WE WILL BREAK DOWN LITERACY BILLS WITH LAWMAKERS JOINING US IN THE STUDIO FROM BOTH CHAMBERS AND BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

LET US GET TO THE NEWS OF THE DAY FROM CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT ROCHELLE RITCHIE.

>> HELLO, DONNA.

BOTH CHAMBERS STARTED OUT THE DAY BY ACKNOWLEDGING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND PRESENTING A BOUQUET OF YELLOW ROSES TO THE FIRST LADY OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

THE BIG NEWS FOR THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WAS THE STATE OF THE JUDICIARY ADDRESS BY CHIEF JUSTICE MICHAEL BOGGS.

>> TODAY, DURING A JOINT SESSION OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE, CHIEF JUSTICE MICHAEL BOGGS GAVE AN INFORMATIVE AND HOPEFUL STATE OF THE JUDICIARY ADDRESS OF THE HOUSE CHAMBERS, DISCUSSING EVERYTHING FROM THE CHALLENGES FACING GEORGE'S JUSTICE SYSTEM, TO MENTAL HEALTH.

BEEN A YEAR OF HARD WORK OF SIGNIFICANT RECOVERY.

CRIMES, BUSINESS DISPUTES, CUSTODY BATTLES RESOLVING THE UNSETTLED ESTATES OF DEPARTED LOVED ONES, THOSE DID NOT STOP SIMPLY BECAUSE OF A VIRUS.

THEY DEMAND RESOLUTION THEN, AND NOW.

>> THE CHIEF JUSTICE APPLAUDING THE EFFORT OF GOVERNOR CANS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE COURTS THROUGH THE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDING.

>> FORTUNATELY, GOVERNOR KEMP HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE ACROSS OUR COURTS FOR GEORGIA FOR HELP.

DURING HIS FIRST TERM, YOU ARE AWARE HE COMMITTED $96 MILLION IN FEDERAL RESCUE FUND ASKED TO SUPPORT PROSECUTORS.

ANOTHER $14 MILLION TO PUBLIC DEFENDERS TO ADDRESS AND FOCUS ON THE REMEDIATION OF SERIOUS VIOLENT FELONY CASES.

>> THAT $96 MILLION BEING USED TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY SPACE TO HOLD JURY SELECTION, HIRE TEMPORARY PERSONNEL, AND UPGRADE EQUIPMENT.

DESPITE THE FUNDING HELPING TO CASES, THE CHIEF JUSTICE WITH CLEAR THAT THE JOB VACANCIES ARE HAVING A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE FOR PROSECUTORS AND DEFENDANTS.

>> AS YOU KNOW, FOR A COURT SYSTEM TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY AND JUSTLY, WE NEED EVERY COMPONENT AT FULL CAPACITY.

WE NEED JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS.

WE PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND COURT REPORTERS.

WE NEED INTERPRETERS AND COURTROOM SECURITY.

TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, IT IS ESPECIALLY ACUTE IN AREAS OUTSIDE METRO AREAS AND IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

MEANWHILE, AND NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE NUMBER OF PENDING CRIMINAL CASES GROWS LARGER.

SO DOES THE WEIGHT FOR DEFENDANTS CHARGED, BUT NOT CONVICTED OF CRIMES SITTING IN LOCAL JAILS, AWAITING THROUGHOUT THE STATE INDICTMENT OR TRIAL.

AS YOU KNOW, IN OUR SYSTEM, PUNISHMENT IS SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW CONVICTION, NOT PROCEEDED.

>> THE CHIEF JUSTICE ADDRESSED AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR BOTH CHAMBERS TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTINUED EFFORTS.

>> ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT PARTICULAR ISSUE, THE CRITICAL LEADERSHIP OF LATE BECAUSE DAVID RALSTON AND THINK SPEAKER JOHN BURNS FOR CONTINUING SPEAKER OFTEN'S LEGACY IN THIS REGARD.

SINCE 1980 IN GEORGIA, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING TO JAIL HAS TRIPLED, AND THE LENGTH OF SENTENCE HAS INCREASED BY 166%.

I BELIEVE MUCH OF THIS IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO DEFICIENCIES IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS.

>> WITH THE CREATION OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMISSION, CHIEF JUSTICE BOGGS BELIEVES THE STATE IS ON THE RIGHT PATH TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

>> THANKFULLY GOVERNOR KEMP AND ALL OF YOU HAVE RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN CREATING AND SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE GOVERNOR'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REFORM AND INNOVATION COMMISSION A COMMISSION ON WHICH I SERVE.

YOUR EFFORTS HAVE SERVED AND HAVE INSURED GEORGIA CONTINUES TO LEAD THE COUNTRY AND THOUGHTFULLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

SINCERELY, I TRULY THINK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR OVERWHELMING SUPPORT LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION.

I TRUST YOU RECOGNIZE YOUR EFFORTS REFLECT WELL ON THE PRIORITIES OF OUR STATE.

>> THE CHIEF JUSTICE ALSO DISCUSSED WAYS TO ADDRESS --OF NONVIOLENT --THROUGH TREATMENT PROGRAMS.

>>> BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, WE WANT TO THANK THE TIME TO OFFER CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF REPRESENTATIVE TISH McGUFFEY.

THE GEORGIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANNOUNCED SHE HAS PASSED AWAY.

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH HER FAMILY.

>>> OUR TOPIC FOR THIS SHOW IS LITERACY IN GEORGIA.

OUR FIRST GUEST, OUR REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BETHANY BALLARD OF WARNER ROBINS.

ONE OF THE MANY NEW LAWMAKERS.

AND, WILL WAIT OF DOCILE BILL WHO IS IN HIS SECOND TERM OF BOTH ARE ON THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TO LAWMAKERS.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I WANT TO START WITH BACKGROUND FOR THE BOTH OF YOU THAT DEALS WITH THIS ISSUE.

REPRESENTED OF BALLARD, YOU WERE IN THE CLASSROOM AS A TEACHER.

THIS IS AT THE HEART OF IT FOR YOU.

YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT GOES ON.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> I BEGAN MY CAREER IN EDUCATION.

I TAUGHT HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH NINTH THROUGH 12th GRADERS.

I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR OUR CHILDREN.

I TOOK SOME TIME OFF AFTER I HAD MY OWN CHILDREN, BUT I NEVER LEFT THE CLASSROOM, REALLY.

I VOLUNTEERED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THEIR SCHOOLING.

I REALLY HAVE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR ALL OF THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN AN ADULT ACTUALLY.

>> NOW, YOU'RE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> I AM GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

LET US TALK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION WITH THE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.

ALMOST 15 YEARS?

>>, 16 YEARS.

A NATIVE OF DAWSONVILLE GEORGIA.

I GUESS I JOKE WITH KIDS A CLASS IN THE 20th CENTURY NEAR THE END OF IT.

GOT TO GO BACK AND SERVE LOCALLY AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER I SERVED AS CHAIRMAN AND HELPED US BECOME ONE OF THE FIRST CHARTER SYSTEMS.

WE WERE VERY FOCUSED ON LITERACY EFFORTS AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING ABOUT THIS, WHAT I BELIEVE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BILLS WE HAVE DONE THIS YEAR.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING BETHANY CONTINUE GETTING THAT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> LET US TALK ABOUT THE PASSION.

WE TALKED ABOUT YOUR PASSION.

YOU ARE LEAD SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 538.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> THIS BILL HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILDHOOD LITERACY.

IF A CHILD IS NOT READING AT GRADE LEVEL BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO GRADUATE ON TIME.

THEY ARE LESS LIKELY AND MORE LIKELY TO -- EVERYTHING HINGES ON READING AT GRADE LEVEL BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE.

THE FOUNDATIONAL BACK TO BASICS READING PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE SERVED US SO WELL THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

THESE ARE PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE HELPED US PUT MAN ON THE MOON.

WE USED THESE PRINCIPLES FOR GENERATIONS, BUT WE HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM THEM.

WE HAVE LOST OUR FOCUS.

>> YOU WANT TO CREATE THE GEORGIA EARLY LITERACY ACT.

TELL US WHAT EXACTLY THAT WOULD ENTAIL.

OUR STATE SCHOOL BOARD WILL CHOOSE CURRICULA FOR SCHOOL BOARDS TO CHOOSE FROM SO THAT LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS WILL NOT BE FLYING BLIND ANYMORE.

OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS ARE MADE OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE BACKGROUNDS IN EDUCATION.

THIS WILL HELP THEM FOCUS ON THE APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM >> I WANT TO MENTION MORE FROM THE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION.

A STUDENT WHO CANNOT READ BY THIRD-GRADERS FOUR TIMES LESS LIKELY TO GRADUATE.

ON TOP OF THAT, A CHILD IN POVERTY IS 13 TIMES LESS LIKELY TO GRADUATE.

ONE MORE GRAPHIC I WANT TO SHOW YOU.

STATISTICS FROM THE GEORGIA OFFICE OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

THIS BREAKS DOWN THE RESULTS OF THAT THIRD GRADE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS MILESTONE SCORES FROM LAST YEAR.

YOU WILL SEE THE BREAKDOWN AT THE TOP.

YOU ALSO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT.

YOU SEE THOSE NUMBERS ARE REALLY STRIKING, AREN'T THEY?

>> THEY ARE.

>> LET US TALK ABOUT WHY YOU WANTED TO SIGN ONTO THIS BILL.

>> I APPRECIATE BETHANY LEADING THE CHARGE ON THIS.

I SUPPORT THE EFFORT BECAUSE THE SCIENCE OF READING IS ACTUALLY EXTREMELY IMPACTFUL WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING A CHANGE FOR STATES.

STATES LIKE MISSISSIPPI THAT USED TO BE 50th IN THE NATION SKYROCKET.

WHEN YOU HAVE GOT MORE THAN 50% OF STUDENTS IN THE STATES THAT ARE NOT READING AT GRADE LEVEL, I LOOK AT THIS AS A TRUE CRISIS.

I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.

WE HAVE DEDICATED TEACHERS IN EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF THE STATE.

WE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE USING THE RIGHT TOOLS SO THEY FEEL CONFIDENT IN TEACHING HOW THEY CAN LEARN TO READ.

IF YOU CAN'T LEARN TO READ, YOU WILL NOT BE IN THAT CRUCIAL STEP TO READ TO CONTINUE TO LEARN.

I BELIEVE THIS IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THE INVESTMENT WE NEED TO MAKE IN THE STATES TO ALLOW LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO GET TEACHER DEVELOP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT UP TO THIS CURRICULUM SHE IS TALKING ABOUT.

IT IS STILL GOING TO ALLOW LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO HAVE THEIR OWN INPUT.

THEY WILL WORK WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES.

IT IS GOING TO BE IMPACTFUL.

I AM EXCITED WE ARE GOING TO GIVE --I THINK --WHAT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS FOR THE CLASS OF 2030-2040.

IT WILL TURN THE TREND.

WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT LITERACY.

I AM VERY PROUD OF OUR HOUSE TAKING THE LEAD IN WORKING WITH THE SENATE ON US ON THIS AS WELL.

>> WE WILL TALK WITH SOME SENATORS LATER ON.

I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE SCIENCE OF READING.

PEOPLE DO NOT THINK OF IT AS A SCIENCE.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, AS WE HAVE MADE ADVANCES IN SCIENCE AND OTHER AREAS, WE HAVE ADVANCED IN UNDERSTANDING HOW WE, AS HUMAN BEINGS, LEARN TO READ.

HUMAN BEINGS LEARN TO TALK VERY NATURALLY.

OUR CHILDREN HEAR US AND LEARN TO TALK.

YOU DON'T LEARN TO READ THAT WAY.

NEUROSCIENTISTS HAVE ACTUALLY DONE SCANS AND BRAIN MAPPING AND SHOWED THE ACTUAL SKILL THAT WE NEED TO TEACH OUR KIDS IT IS EVIDENCE-BASED.

BACK TO PHONICS, WHICH IS THE WAY A LOT OF US LEARN TO READ.

LEARNING TO SOUND OUT THE WORDS, LEARNING THE VOWEL SOUNDS, WHEN TWO VOWELS ARE TOGETHER.

THERE IS AWARENESS AND FLUENCY JUST LEARNING TO READ CORRECTLY AND READ WELL OUT LOUD OR IN YOUR HEAD.

THEN, THE READING COMPREHENSION.

IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH THAT OUR CHILDREN CAN READ THE WORD.

THEY MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE READING.

WE ALSO GET INTO A LITTLE BIT OF SPELLING.

MY CHILDREN --I REMEMBER FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IT WAS READING AND SPELLING WORDS.

MY CHILDREN HAVE THAT.

>> THERE IS SPELLCHECK, THAT IS WHY.

>> THERE IS SPELLCHECK.

SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T WORK.

THIS IS ALL A SCIENCE-BASED.

IT WILL BREAKDOWN FOR TEACHERS, EXACTLY HOW TO TEACH THE >> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WANTED WERE COACHES.

NO PHYSICAL NOTE FOR THAT?

>> I WILL SPEAK TO THAT.

I KNOW A LOT OF SYSTEMS IN OUR STATE UTILIZE LITERACY COACHES.

OUR SYSTEM BACK HOME, MOST OF MY DISTRICTS HAVE THOSE AND THEY ARE INVESTING IN THAT LOCALLY.

I THINK THERE IS A PATH FOR US TO HELP IN THAT AREA IN THE FUTURE.

THE WAY THE BILL IS STRUCTURED, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO BUILD A PIPELINE FOR OUR CURRENT STUDENTS IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION.

THAT IS SO WHEN THEY COME OUT OF COLLEGE, I BELIEVE THE CHANCELLOR IS VERY MUCH WILLING TO HELP IN THAT EFFORT AND MAKING SURE THOSE FOLKS COME OUT WITH AN ENDORSEMENT.

IT IS THEIR JOB TO MAKE SURE EVERY CHILD IN THE STATE IS READING AT GRADE LEVEL.

MY HOPE IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THE EVIDENCE WITH EFFORTS IN THE SYSTEMS THAT USE IT AND START ACTUALLY SEEING WHERE OUR KIDS ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF KINDERGARTEN OR AT THE BEGINNING OF FIRST GRADE AND THE END OF FIRST GRADE.

NOT FROM UNACCOUNTABILITY CAN BE ENGAGED AND KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEIR KIDS ARE IN NOT HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GROW, LEARN AND READ.

>> PARENTS CAN BE PARTNERS IN THAT PROCESS.

>> THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP.

I REMEMBER WHEN MY WIFE AND I WERE EXPECTING OUR FIRST CHILD.

I AM THE SON OF TWO TEACHERS.

I AM MARRIED TO A TEACHER WHO IS NOW AN ADMINISTRATOR.

SHE AND I WERE LISTENING TO THIS WONDERFUL NURSE SAY, "LISTEN, YOUR JOB AS A PARENT IS GOING TO BE TO READ TO YOUR CHILDREN.

THEN, YOU'RE GOING TO READ WITH YOUR CHILDREN.

THEN, YOU'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN READ.

IT IS A FULL PARTNERSHIP."

I KNOW THERE ARE SOME KIDS THAT COME TO SCHOOL.

THERE ARE SOME KIDS THAT DON'T HAVE WHAT I HAD AND WHAT WE TRY TO GIVE TO OUR KIDS.

THOSE CLASSROOM TEACHERS, MY HEART IS WITH YOU.

I KNOW YOU ARE DOING IT EVERY DAY.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE WANTS TO GIVE YOU THE TOOLS TO HELP THAT.

>> WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT ONE MINUTE LEFT.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ARE PUSHING IS THE BIG SCHOOLS ACT.

AND LITERACY.

GOVERNOR KEMP HAS CHIMED IN THE SCHOOL SAFETY ACT.

I AM HONORED TO SHARE THAT WITH HIM.

SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVE THEIR SAFETY OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP THE FOLKS WE DON'T NEED IN OUR SCHOOLS DISRUPTING THAT.

IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE SOME INSTANT RESPONSE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO EMPOWER LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO DESIGN THOSE.

THERE WILL BE OPT OUT OPTIONS.

ALMOST EVERY STATE AND EDUCATION GROUP WORKED WITH US TO DEVELOP THIS PLAN.

WE APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT.

IT IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE LITERACY THAT ARE CRUCIAL FOR THE STATE.

>> WE HAVE GOT A LOT ON OUR PLATES HERE.

YOU GUYS ARE FIRED UP.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON THIS SHOW.

GOOD LUCK TO GETTING YOUR BILL THROUGH THE SENATE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> COMING UP, WE HAVE HEARD FROM TWO MEMBERS OF THE GEORGIA HOUSE.

WE WILL CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ON LITERACY WITH TWO MEMBERS OF THE SENATE WITH A FOCUS ON THE WORKFORCE ISSUE AND MORE.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO LAWMAKERS.

I AM DONNA LOWRY.

ONE OF THE OVERALL THEMES OF THE SESSION IS WORKFORCE USERS ISSUES.

BE LITERACY PART IS THE CRITICAL PART OF PREPARING FUTURE WORKERS.

JOINING ME FOR OUR DISCUSSION IS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR ELENA PARENT OF ATLANTA AND REPUBLICAN SENATOR BILLY HICKMAN OF STATESBORO, WHO WAS ALSO CHAIR OF THE HOUSE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

WELCOME BACK LAWMAKERS.

WE HAVE HAD YOU ON BEFORE.

YOU GUYS ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.

LET US START WITH YOUR LITERACY BILL HB 211.

IT WOULD CREATE A GEORGIA COUNCIL ON LITERACY.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> SENATE BILL 211.

>> OH, I DID SAY HOUSE.

I GOT THE SENATE IS NOW.

>> SENATE BILL 211 --WE DIDN'T GET HERE OVERNIGHT.

IT WILL NOT BE CORRECTED OVERNIGHT.

SENATE BILL 211 WILL LOOK AT A CONFIDENCE REVIEW THROUGH AFFECT LITERACY.

'S COUNSEL MADE UP OF 24 PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

ALSO, WE WILL HAVE THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ALSO WILL BE MEMBERS.

>> IT IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE.

THE REASON FOR THAT, IT AFFECTS SO MUCH OF GEORGIA, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT'S DOES.

WHAT WE FOUND OUT -- WE ARE GOING TO GET INFORMATION FROM ALL OF THESE GROUPS.

OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO HAVE AT LEAST FOUR MEETINGS A YEAR.

WE WILL HAVE A REPORT BACK TO THE GOVERNOR/LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER OF HOUSE IN NOVEMBER OF EVERY YEAR.

THE MAIN THING IS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE REAL ISSUES ARE.

>> LET US TALK ABOUT IT.

YOU SIGNED ON.

IT IS VERY BIPARTISAN.

>> ABSOLUTELY!

I HAVE BEEN SO GRATIFIED BY THE EFFORT UNDERTAKEN BY CHAIRMAN HICKMAN AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVE BALLARD AND REPRESENTATIVE WADE.

HAS SENATOR HICKMAN JUST SAID, WE DID NOT GET INTO THIS OVERNIGHT.

I DO THINK WITH THE INSTRUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES NOT JUST IN GEORGIA, BUT MORE GENERALLY IT DID GET LED ASTRAY BY FALSE BELIEFS THAT NOW, WE KNOW, ARE SIMPLY WRONG BY INCREASED SCIENCE AND NEUROSCIENCE.

REALLY STARTING TO UNDERSTAND HOW HUMANS READ AND HOW THE BRAIN PROCESSES WORK.

THERE WAS A BELIEF THAT IF YOU KIND OF READ TO YOUR KIDS, THE WAY REPRESENTATIVE BALLARD WAS TALKING ABOUT SPEAKING, THAT THEY WOULD LEARN.

IT TURNS OUT THAT SIMPLY IS NOT TRUE FOR A LOT OF KIDS.

WE HAD ALL OF THESE THINGS WHERE THEY WOULD SHOW CHILDREN A PICTURE PICK THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GUESS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WORD WENT THERE.

THEY WERE NEVER TAUGHT SPECIFICALLY AND EXPLICITLY TO SOUND OUT THE WORD.

GUESS WHAT THAT MEANS.

IT MEANS IF YOU ARE NOT THAT, YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY READING.

>> I REMEMBER WERE PRESENTED OF DOLLARS TALKED ABOUT IT.

I LEARNED HOW TO READ THROUGH WORDS AND SOUND THEM OUT.

MY KIDS DIDN'T NECESSARILY DO THAT.

>> WE LEARNED -- I REMEMBER SO MANY TIMES, LONG VOWELS AND SHORT VOWELS AND BREAKING THE WORDS DOWN.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TALKED WITH SO MANY PARENTS ABOUT.

THEY ARE NOW GOING BACK TO THE PHONETICS.

>> I WANT TO PRESENT A FEW MORE STATISTICS ON LITERACY.

THE GEORGIA OFFICE OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT REPORTS HIGH SCORES ON THIRD GRADE CRITERIA REFERENCE COMPETENCY TESTS.

THEY PRODUCE HIGHER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES, MAKE STUDENTS MORE LIKELY TO TAKE THE S.A.T.

OR THE A.C.T., AND THEY PRODUCE HIGHER THAN AVERAGE SCORES ON STANDARDIZED TESTS, IF THEY HAVE HIGH GRADES.

ONE MORE SET STEAD OF STATISTICS.

THE EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION REPORTS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION REDUCES THE PLACEMENT AND INCREASES HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES BY MORE THAN 11%.

THAT IS A KEEPER.

THE THIRD GRADE IS A CRITICAL ISSUE, BUT ALSO, WE HAVE ALSO LEARNED THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE GOT TO START A LOT EARLIER -- PRE-K AND >> I ANTICIPATE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO BE ON THIS COUNSEL.

IT IS GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH TO DO WITH GEORGIA.

>> AGREED.

THE IMPACT IS TRULY ENORMOUS.

>> ALL OF THE OUTCOMES EVERYONE HAS BEEN MENTIONING REALLY FLOW FROM THAT IN SO MANY WAYS.

KIDS WITH DYSLEXIA ARE ONE OF THE LARGE GROUPS WHO ARE IMPACTED WITH THIS.

THEY DO DESERVE A SPECIFIC MENTION.

WHEN YOUR BRAIN IS WIRED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY NEUROLOGICALLY, IT IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO LEARN TO READ WITHOUT THAT EXPLICIT INSTRUCTION.

IT IS NOT JUST CHILDREN WITH DYSLEXIA.

THERE ARE OTHER LEARNING DIFFERENCES.

SOME OF THESE EXPLICIT METHODS HELP ALL KIDS, INCLUDING STRUGGLING READERS.

IT DESERVES MENTION THAT THERE MAY BE 20%, OR MORE, OF STRUGGLING KIDS WHO ARE ACTUALLY DYSLEXIC.

IT IS EXTREMELY HIGHER.

THAT IS THE STATISTIC WHEN I STARTED WORKING ON THIS A FEW YEARS AGO.

WE HAVE THESE HUGE NUMBERS OF CHILDREN THAT ARE NOT PROFICIENT.

WE HAVE THIS HUGE PERCENTAGE THAT WE SUSPECT HAVE DYSLEXIA OR ANOTHER LEARNING DIFFERENCE.

WHY AREN'T WE PUTTING TWO AND TWO TOGETHER AND JUMPING IN WITH OUR SEATS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING THOSE KIDS THE TYPE OF INSTRUCTION THAT THEY REALLY NEED.

>> TO FOCUS ON LITERACY WILL DEAL WITH ALL OF THAT, INCLUDING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.

>> I WANT TO ALSO GIVE CREDIT TO ANOTHER ONE OF OUR SENATORS WHO SAID WE NEED TO INCLUDE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.

ALSO, POVERTY ISSUES.

THAT IS WHY THIS COUNSEL WILL BE --I BELIEVE THE TERMINATION DATE IS DECEMBER 31, 2026.

AGAIN, ON A YEARLY BASIS THEY WILL SPEAK ABOUT IT.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO MENTION WE TALKED ABOUT LITERACY.

WE CALL IT AN EPIDEMIC.

WE CANNOT CREATE AN EDUCATED WORKFORCE WITH ALL THE JOBS COMING TO GEORGIA IF OUR CHILDREN CAN'T READ.

THE NUMBERS THAT ARE PUSHED OUT IS AT THE THIRD GRADE LEVEL, 57% ARE READING ON GRADE LEVEL IN THIRD GRADE.

>> THAT IS A CRISIS LEVEL.

>> WE CAN'T SURVIVE.

WE WON'T SURVIVE.

>> TO BE ABLE TO FEEL THOUGH THE JOBS, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN EDUCATED WORKFORCE, ONE THAT IS LITERATE.

IT BEARS REPEATING WHAT THE SENATOR SAID ABOUT THE LACK OF SELF-ESTEEM THAT A CHILD WILL INTERNALIZE IF THEY ARE STRUGGLING.

IT IS A BASIC SKILL THAT IS EXPECTED WITHIN OUR SOCIETY.

TAKING STEPS TO -- WE ARE FAILING AT JOB NUMBER ONE, FOUNDATION JOB NUMBER ONE I THINK IT IS FANTASTIC THAT THE LITERACY COUNCIL PROPOSES AN ONGOING ASSESSMENT.

WE DO HAVE 1.7 MILLION CHILDREN IN GEORGIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOL WE KNOW SCALING UP TEACHERS, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT INSTRUCTION, LOOKING AT THE TEACHERS COLLEGES GETTING THE PROGRAMS TO HELP KIDS WITH DYSLEXIA AND OTHER READING STRUGGLES INTO PLAY IS ALL GOING TO BE -- IT IS REALLY A MONUMENTAL EFFORT.

IT IS WELL WORTH ALL OF OUR TIME.

THE ONGOING NATURE OF THE COUNSEL IS VERY HELPFUL.

>> IT IS ALL INTERCONNECTED.

>> ONE THING I DON'T WANT TO GET AWAY FROM IT, WE HAVE GOT TO GET OUR COMMUNITIES INVOLVED.

IT IS A COMMUNITY ISSUE.

I REALLY THINK IF OUR COMMUNITIES VIEW HOW ILLITERATE OUR CHILDREN WERE, OUR COMMUNITIES WOULD RISE UP.

OUR SUPERINTENDENCE AND ADMINISTRATORS ANNE STATE BOARD PEOPLE HAVE NOT TOLD US.

THEY HAVE CAMOUFLAGED IT WITH GRADUATION RATES BEING UP HERE.

WE HAVE DEFINED A METRIC SYSTEM THAT EVERYBODY IN EVERY NONPROFIT AGREES THE SAME TYPE OF METRIC SYSTEM SO WE CAN TRULY MEASURE >> WE TALKED WITH SOME PEOPLE TODAY AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW CHILDREN COMING INTO THE UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE ARE NOT ABLE TO READ, WRITE, OR SPELL AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER.

>> IT IS PRETTY SCARY TO ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT THAT AND WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.

>> IT WILL TAKE A MONUMENTAL EFFORT, BUT NOTHING COULD BE MORE CRITICAL.

CONCERNED, IS MORE WORTHY OF ATTENTION AND THE INVESTMENT AS A REPRESENTATIVE WADE SAID IN THE EARLIER SEGMENTS OF ONE OF OUR SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS, MISSISSIPPI, ABOUT NINE YEARS AGO.

THEY RECOGNIZED THE CRISIS THEY WERE IN.

THEY PUT INTO PLACE A COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY PLAN THAT HAS AMAZING RESULTS FOR THEM.

>> WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT IN GEORGIA.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THIS SHOW.

I AM GLAD WE SPENT THIS SHOW FOCUSING ON IT.

THAT DOES IT FOR LAWMAKERS TODAY.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THAT WILL BE DAY NUMBER 31 GOOD NIGHT.

THANK YOU GUYS ARE COMING.

>> YOU DO A GREAT JOB.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YEAH, DON'T LEAVE ME YET.