By Yolanda Marroquin
Far too many children in Georgia struggle with reading, with only 30% of fourth graders reading at or above grade level. The Georgia Early Literacy Act (House Bill 538), enacted in 2023, seeks to change that by aligning reading instruction in schools with the science of reading—a research-backed approach that strengthens foundational literacy skills through structured, evidence-based methods.
But schools alone can’t solve this. Nonprofit organizations play a critical role in expanding literacy beyond the classroom, and Learn4Life, in partnership with the Rollins Center for Language & Literacy, is helping them make an even greater impact.
Through Literacy and Justice for All (LJFA), Learn4Life and the Rollins Center have worked to improve early literacy by supporting schools, educators, and families. Now, they are expanding this initiative with the LJFA Nonprofit Network, equipping nonprofits with research-driven literacy training and embedding them more deeply into the literacy ecosystem to help young learners develop strong reading skills.
Understanding the Science of Reading
The science of reading is a research-based approach that explains how the brain processes language and develops literacy. Grounded in structured literacy, it emphasizes key components such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—all essential for building strong readers.
Georgia is integrating these research-based methods into classrooms to improve student outcomes, but true literacy success requires support in all areas where children learn. Nonprofits help bridge this gap by reinforcing best practices through tutoring, mentoring, and community-based reading programs.
To support this work, the Rollins Center provides free, self-paced training through Cox Campus, an online platform designed to equip stakeholders with practical literacy strategies.
Strengthening Literacy Through Nonprofits
The LJFA Nonprofit Network expands the reach of structured literacy into community spaces, ensuring more children receive high-quality reading support. While many nonprofits already promote literacy through tutoring and enrichment activities, this initiative helps them integrate evidence-based methods that drive measurable improvement.
By adopting structured literacy practices, nonprofits can:
- Ensure programs reflect the latest science of reading research to maximize literacy impact.
- Equip volunteers with proven instructional strategies to enhance tutoring and mentoring.
- Increase access to structured literacy through afterschool and community programs.
This initiative is particularly valuable for organizations working with children ages 0-9, a crucial period for literacy development. By strengthening literacy resources across Georgia, LJFA ensures that all children—regardless of where they learn—gain the skills they need to become confident readers.
How the Training Works
Each nonprofit will collaborate with Learn4Life to develop a customized training plan tailored to their team’s needs. The coursework is flexible and self-paced, allowing staff and volunteers to engage with the material on their schedule.
- Staff and volunteers can complete the training in 2-4 hours at their convenience.
- Organizational leaders will dedicate about 10 hours over a few months to guide their teams through implementation.
- Training covers key topics such as meaningful conversations, vocabulary building, trauma-informed practices, and oral language development.
How to Get Involved
Organizations interested in joining the LJFA Nonprofit Network can start by filling out a short interest survey After enrolling, they will be contacted by Learn4Life to attend an orientation meeting, where they’ll receive guidance on accessing Cox Campus, choosing a learning track, and implementing the training.
By integrating structured literacy into nonprofit programming, the LJFA Nonprofit Network is establishing a standard of care to ensure more children in Georgia grow into confident, capable readers—ready for success in school and life.
This is sponsored content.
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