Georgia Governor Signs Major Education Bills Including Phone Ban
Governor Brian Kemp signed major education legislation hiring 1,300+ literacy coaches and banning high school cell phones to address Georgia’s reading crisis.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Governor Brian Kemp signed a package of education legislation Tuesday, including a major literacy initiative and a ban on cell phones in high school classrooms across Georgia.
“Here in the No. 1 state for business and opportunity, our classrooms must be safe learning environments that serve as launching pads for success in the workforce,” said Kemp, who is serving his final year in office.
The signing ceremony marked the culmination of this year’s legislative session priorities, with House Speaker Jon Burns celebrating the passage of his flagship literacy bill alongside Representative Scott Hilton’s cell phone legislation.
Literacy Initiative Addresses Reading Crisis
House Bill 1193, Burns’ top priority during the legislative session, responds to concerning elementary reading scores showing more than 60% of Georgia third graders reading below grade level. The literacy overhaul will hire more than 1,300 new literacy coaches for every school in the state serving students between kindergarten and third grade.
“Literacy is the foundation of our success, not only as individuals, but for our state,” Burns said Tuesday. “Whether it’s mental health, job opportunities, workforce readiness, our economy, Georgia’s prison population or health care outcomes, literacy impacts every aspect of our lives and our state’s well being.”
Literacy coaches are educators with specialized training in reading acquisition who work directly with classroom teachers to help children develop skilled reading abilities.
Additional Education Reforms
The literacy legislation also establishes a Georgia Literacy Task Force and creates a state literacy director position. School systems will be required to develop their own literacy plans under the new law.
The bill includes provisions preventing districts from placing students in first grade without completing kindergarten, ensuring proper educational progression for young learners.
Representative Scott Hilton’s legislation banning personal electronic devices for high schoolers during school hours also received the governor’s signature. Hilton jokingly pretended to take a phone call as Kemp signed the cell phone ban into law.
The phone ban targets classroom disruptions and aims to create more focused learning environments for Georgia’s high school students. The measure prohibits students from using personal electronic devices during instructional time.
These education reforms come as Georgia continues positioning itself as a leader in business development and workforce preparation, with state officials emphasizing the connection between educational achievement and economic competitiveness.
