Georgia Promoted Literacy During Pre-K Week
The state initiative distributed 87,000 books to children to help boost early childhood literacy rates.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Primary Education
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Georgia celebrated Georgia Pre-K Week to encourage early childhood reading. Approximately 87,000 Pre-K students across the state received copies of the book Every Amazing Song as part of the effort.
Why it matters
State leaders launched this initiative to combat low literacy rates, as 62% of Georgia third graders currently do not read proficiently. With 90% of a childs brain developing by age 5, early intervention is seen as critical for long-term academic success.
Approximately 87,000 Pre-K students statewide received copies of the book Every Amazing Song. These efforts address the fact that 62% of Georgia third graders are not reading proficiently.
The players
Malcolm Mitchell
He is a former professional football player who has become an advocate for youth literacy.
Coy Bowles
He is a musician known as a member of the Zac Brown Band and an author of children books.
Building Kidz of Roswell
This is a local preschool facility in Roswell that hosted the literacy event.
The details
Public figures including Malcolm Mitchell and Coy Bowles participated by visiting Building Kidz of Roswell to read to students. The program focuses on providing physical books to children to encourage reading at home.
Timeline
Georgia Pre-K Week took place in October 2026.
Culture Shift
This program reflects a broader societal push to prioritize early childhood development and literacy before students reach primary school. It aligns with statewide efforts to improve educational benchmarks measured against the Georgia Department of Education's third-grade reading proficiency metrics.
Families across Georgia can use the provided books to establish or strengthen daily reading routines at home. By engaging with these materials before age 5, parents can directly support their childs foundational brain development.
The takeaway
Parents should prioritize reading to children daily to capitalize on the rapid brain development that occurs before age 5. Utilizing accessible community resources like state-provided books can help bridge the literacy gap before students enter elementary school.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to improve standards at the Primary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta.
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