Section 20-1-44 - [Effective until 12/31/2026] Duties and authority(a) The council shall have the following duties:(1) Work in partnership with the State Board of Education and the Department of Education to implement the requirements of the Georgia Early Literacy Act as provided for in Code Section 20-2-153.1;(2) Review the conditions, needs, issues, and problems related to state literacy outcomes; make recommendations for legislation and appropriations to support improving such outcomes; and provide by November 30 of each year a report of such review and recommendations to the Governor, the Office of Planning and Budget, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate;(3) Evaluate and consider the best practices, experiences, and results of legislation in other states with regard to literacy improvements for students;(4) Research and make recommendations on improving literacy rates for low-income students;(5) Research and make recommendations on improving literacy rates for minority and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) students;(6) Research and make recommendations on improving literacy rates for students with characteristics of dyslexia;(7) Monitor state-wide literacy goals and measures set by the State Board of Education in consultation with the Department of Education and the Office of Student Achievement and provide by October 31 of each year a report to the State Board of Education of the conclusions reached through such monitoring regarding the status and effectiveness of policy initiatives;(8) Review changes or updates to QBE funding to enhance literacy instruction;(9) Review and make recommendations on the alignment of teacher certifications to include evidence based literacy instruction and education degree program requirements;(10) Review and make recommendations for the professional development needed by current teachers for improving literacy instruction in pre-kindergarten through third grade;(11) Review state-wide birth to age five initiatives and suggest policy and appropriation changes; and(12) Review best practices for community based literacy programs and make recommendations for improvement.(b) The council shall be authorized to:(1) Request and receive data from and review the records of appropriate state agencies to the greatest extent allowed by state and federal law;(2) Seek and accept public or private grants, devises, and bequests;(3) Enter into contracts or agreements through the council's chairperson necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties;(4) Establish rules and procedures for conducting the business of the council;(5) Conduct studies, hold public meetings, collect data, or take any other action the council deems necessary to fulfill its responsibilities; and(6) Retain the services of attorneys, consultants, subject matter experts, economists, budget analysts, data analysts, statisticians, and other individuals or organizations as deemed appropriate by the council. Such services may be obtained through a request for proposal process conducted through the Office of Planning and Budget; provided, however, that any final selection shall be approved by the council.Added by 2023 Ga. Laws 8,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2023.