News Summary

Atlanta will host Georgia Reads Day, an event dedicated to promoting literacy statewide. The celebration features a virtual reading rally at the College Football Hall of Fame with participation from students. Various activities across districts will engage families and raise awareness about the importance of literacy. Events include family literacy nights, workshops, and a summit for educators, showcasing efforts to improve reading skills among children. The state’s ongoing commitment to literacy initiatives reflects growing concerns about education and reading rates.

Atlanta Hosts Georgia Reads Day to Champion Literacy

On September 22, Georgia will recognize Georgia Reads Day, an event dedicated to promoting literacy across the state. The celebration features former NFL and University of Georgia football star Malcolm Mitchell, who has served as a Georgia Reads Coach for several years. The day centers around a statewide virtual reading rally taking place at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, with a live-stream that begins at 9:30 a.m. and the rally itself kicking off around 10 a.m. Approximately 400 students from Atlanta Public Schools are expected to participate.

Key Activities and District Involvement

The Georgia Reads Day livestream will precede the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System’s Literacy Week festivities, which runs from September 30 to October 4. Younger students in the district will partake in the reading rally while older students will participate in “Stop Drop and Read” activities. This year, Savannah’s Literacy Week is rich with new opportunities for engagement following previous years that featured guest speaker Kareem Weaver’s insights on literacy advocacy.

As part of Literacy Week, each school within the Savannah-Chatham district will host a family literacy night, focusing on immersive activities designed to engage families in the reading process. Schools will provide information and tips to help families foster literacy outside the classroom. Additionally, ‘LitTalks’ will occur on October 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Alfred E. Beach High School Auditorium, requiring RSVPs for attendance.

Furthermore, Parent University is scheduled for October 4 at the Davis-Edwards-Harris Complex, offering workshops designed to build literacy skills at home. The workshops will run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and provide free lunch and childcare with no advance registration needed. The district is encouraging parental support for literacy initiatives, aiming to leverage strengths within families to advance literacy among children.

Literacy Statistics and Program Developments

Currently, data indicates that around 54% of students in grades 3-5 and 6-8 in Savannah-Chatham County read at grade level, according to GMAS assessments. In addition to the individual school events, the district will celebrate the accomplishments of K-5 teachers who have completed an 18-month training program focused on the science of reading through Lexia LETRS.

The United Way of the Coastal Empire is hosting an invite-only Readers Rise Summit on October 9, designed for educators, caregivers, and community leaders to explore effective literacy strategies and child learning success. Featured speakers will include Literacy Effectiveness Officer Cherie Goldman and Get Georgia Reading Campaign Director Arianne Weldon, who will address developmentally appropriate literacy practices for children and overall literacy trends in Georgia.

Significance of Georgia Reads Day

Georgia Reads Day aims to raise awareness about the importance of literacy in the community, working towards improvements in reading skills. It comes amid increasing funding for literacy initiatives, with $18 million allocated to expand coaching efforts, resulting in 225 literacy coaches statewide, with 60 assigned to comprehensive support and improvement schools. The Georgia Reads Community Award has recognized ten communities for their effective literacy collaborations, awarding each a grant of $25,000 to enhance local literacy efforts. Applications for a new cohort of awards will open in 2025.

Participation in the Georgia Reads Day livestream has seen considerable growth, with over 100,000 students engaging in 2024 and expectations for more than 200,000 participants in 2025. In light of national concerns about literacy rates and education assessments, Georgia’s ongoing commitment to literacy advocacy and community engagement is more relevant than ever.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Savannah Area High Schools Shine in U.S. News Rankings
Malcolm Mitchell Hosts Georgia Reads Day to Promote Literacy
Measles Case Confirmed in Fulton County Resident
Atlanta’s Film Industry Faces Significant Slowdown
Understanding the Georgia Lemon Law for New Vehicles
Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Creates Air Quality Alerts
Savannah Celebrates African American and Gullah Geechee Literature
Dottie’s Savannah Market Announces Permanent Closure
Georgia Legislates Tort Reform to Alleviate Insurance Costs
Savannah Prepares for St. Patrick’s Day Amid Crime Concerns

Additional Resources

• Business Wire: Georgia Reads Day
• Rough Draft Atlanta: Georgia Reads Day Event 2025
• Fox 5 Atlanta: George Reads Day Spotlight
• Wikipedia: Literacy
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Literacy

Author: STAFF HERE SAVANNAH WRITER

SAVANNAH STAFF WRITER The SAVANNAH STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESavannah.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Savannah, Chatham County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Savannah Music Festival, St. Patrick's Day Parade, and Savannah Jazz Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Coastal Empire, plus leading businesses in aerospace, education, and logistics that power the local economy such as Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Colonial Group. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAtlanta.com and HEREAugusta.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Georgia's dynamic landscape.