23 LC 49 1053
H. B. 367
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House Bill 367
By: Representatives Scott of the 76
th
and Davis of the 87
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 9 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
1
Annotated, relating to grants for educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education2
Act," so as to provide for up to $500,000 in matching grants by the State Board of Education3
to local units of administration for the purpose of providing home reading programs for4
students in kindergarten through fifth grade; to authorize the State Board of Education to5
receive and administer federal funds for such grants; to provide for the prioritization of6
economically disadvantaged households; to provide for eligibility; to require the State Board7
of Education to develop rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal8
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10
SECTION 1.11
Part 9 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,12
relating to grants for educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is13
amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows: 14 23 LC 49 1053
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"20-2-259.1.15
(a) The State Board of Education shall provide matching grants, subject to available16
funding, to qualified local units of administration to provide an eligible home reading17
program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Such matching grant funds shall18
be distributed by the Department of Education with a focus on economically disadvantaged19
households.20
(b) A home reading program is eligible for matching grant funds provided pursuant to this21
Code section if it is provided in partnership with an affiliated local unit of administration22
by a nonprofit organization that meets the following requirements:23
(1) Delivers an evidence based, self selected reading program consisting of independent24
reading level books that are individually mailed to the residences of kindergarten through25
fifth grade students on a weekly basis;26
(2) Incorporates at least weekly phone calls, texts, or application notifications in multiple27
languages to a parent or guardian to drive parental and family engagement throughout the28
duration of the program;29
(3) Provides at least six and not more than nine new student selected books that students30
shall be permitted to keep;31
(4) Builds on pedagogical principles of literacy instruction to scaffold fluency and32
improve reading comprehension with student exercises;33
(5) Includes a customizable portal to generate individualized data reports for analysis of34
student progress by program providers, affiliated local units of administration, and35
parents and guardians;36
(6) Collects, disaggregates, and distributes detailed data on all metrics of the program,37
such as engagement of parents or guardians, books read, and allowable demographic data;38
(7) Provides a summary of data on all students served by the program to the Department39
of Education;40 23 LC 49 1053
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(8) Agrees to secure the required matching funds from the participating local unit of41
administration and maintain auditable verification of the receipt; and42
(9) The combined total cost of the program, including district matching funds, does not43
exceed $50.00 per student per semester.44
(c) The total amount of matching grant funds provided by the State Board of Education45
pursuant to this Code section shall not exceed $500,000.00 each state fiscal year.46
(d) The State Board of Education is authorized to receive and administer federal funds,47
including, but not limited to, funds from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund, to provide48
matching grant funds pursuant to this Code section. The Department of Education shall49
serve as a state level flow through point for any available federal funding.50
(e) The State Board of Education shall prescribe criteria, policies, and standards deemed51
necessary for the effective implementation of this Code section."52
SECTION 2. 53
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.54