What is Georgia’s Reading Consortium?

Georgia’s Reading Consortium is a collaborative initiative focused on meeting the needs of Georgia’s teachers and students. The Consortium provides extensive professional development in literacy teaching and learning for Georgia’s practicing P-12 educators. Fourteen University System institutions are currently participating in the Consortium.

Why do we need professional development in reading at all levels?

Reading is not just taught in the first through third grade; literacy is a continual process, during which students learn how to make meaning of and evaluate text.  P-12 teachers must be provided with more effective tools to increase reading skills among students at all levels, which should help address critical problems such as low scores on standardized tests and insufficient competencies to function as adults.

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What is the purpose of the Center for the USG Reading Consortium?

The Reading Consortium established the Center for the USG Reading Consortium to help provide opportunities for statewide collaboration among professionals engaged in improving the literacy performance of students P-12.  The Center is established as a consortium of reading faculty, classroom teachers, and representatives from the Department of Education, Professional Standards Commission and the University System. The mission of the center is to design and promote professional development in literacy instruction for classroom teachers. The goals of the center are:

·       To monitor the effectiveness of the Consortium efforts at improving literacy in the state of Georgia.

·       To provide a yearly conference that links statewide participants in Reading Endorsement programs.

·       To increase public awareness and understanding of effective approaches that can improve the reading abilities of all P-12 students in Georgia.

·       To conduct and disseminate research on the effective teaching of reading.

·       To promote dialogue and collaboration on the effective teaching of reading across consortium members. 

The location of the Center rotates among consortium members. The Center is currently housed at GeorgiaStateUniversity in Atlanta. 

What institutions are participating in the Reading Consortium?

·       AlbanyStateUniversity

·       ArmstrongAtlanticStateUniversity

·       AugustaStateUniversity

·       ColumbusStateUniversity

·       GeorgiaCollege & StateUniversity

·       Georgia Southern University

·       Georgia StateUniversity

·       Kennesaw StateUniversity

·       NorthGeorgiaCollege & State University

·       State University of West Georgia

·       University of Georgia

·       Valdosta State University 

Whom do I contact for more information about the Consortium, Center and/or registering for Reading Endorsement Courses?

For information about the Center contact:

Dr. Joyce Many                    

Director of the Center for the USG Reading Consortium

Mstjem@gsu.edu                    404-651-2516