Georgia House speaker announces members of new literacy task force

Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns announced Monday members of the Georgia Literacy Task Force.

The task force will be responsible for evaluating and recommending key components of the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, including reviewing instructional materials, and professional learning programs.

“The Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 marks a historic milestone and generational investment in the future of Georgia’s children and our entire state,” Burns said in a news release. “Together, the members of this task force bring a wealth of knowledge, decades of experience, and a shared commitment to bringing science-based, proven literacy instruction to every K-3 classroom across our state. I want to thank each of them for their willingness to serve and ensure every Georgia student has an opportunity to read and succeed.”

The chair of the task force will be the State Literacy Director with the goal of making sure each child has a strong foundation for learning.

Here are the appointments:

• Amy Lingo serves as the Dean of the College of Education at Georgia Southern University.
• Lesley Taylor has more than 25 years of experience in Georgia public education and currently serves as the Regional Literacy Coach for First District Regional Educational Service Agency.
• Dayle Burns is a retired elementary school educator and administrator with more than 30 years of experience and currently leads the Effingham Early Literacy County.