Newton County Schools unveiled a districtwide literacy initiative during the 2025 State of the District address, with Superintendent Dr. Duke Bradley III saying the effort will be central to the system’s goal of becoming “the fastest improving school district in the state of Georgia.”

The campaign builds on recent academic gains the district highlighted at the event, including a 2024 district graduation rate of 91 percent (above the Georgia average of 85.4 percent) and improvements on state accountability measures. Officials said the district will emphasize “the science of reading” in elementary grades and continue literacy supports through K–12 as part of a broader strategy to raise long‑term student achievement and workforce readiness.

Why it matters: District leaders framed literacy as foundational to students’ academic progress and future job prospects. Speakers noted national literacy challenges for adults and argued that improving early reading skills is essential to closing achievement gaps and supporting workforce development in Newton County.

Newton County Superintendent Dr. Duke Bradley III said the district will “ground our instruction in the science of reading in elementary school” and extend literacy work through secondary grades to support graduation and career readiness. Tracy Blackburn, chief of learning and leadership, told attendees the district had made literacy its primary academic focus under direction from the Board of Education and that a new comprehensive literacy strategy will define standards for instruction and supports.

The Newton Education Foundation (NEF), which board leaders and speakers credited with funding and coordinating supports, is underwriting a pilot of REAP (Reading Is Essential for All People) at East Newton Elementary and South Salem Elementary. NEF cofounder Lucy Hay and NEF executive director Gail Rothman described REAP as providing structured‑literacy training for teachers; school staff and participating teachers at the event said they were already seeing gains in student confidence and reading performance.

Officials also cited several districtwide performance indicators to justify the intensified literacy push. The district reported a 2024 graduation rate of 91 percent, with Eastside High School posting a 94 percent rate, surpassing the statewide average of 85.4 percent. District leaders listed multiple accountability gains: a cited middle‑school level CCRPI (College and Career Ready Performance Index) score of 94, “perfect scores” in the closing‑gaps category across all 14 elementary schools, and double‑digit gains at several schools on state assessments. Specific year‑to‑year gains mentioned included an 8th‑grade math increase of 12 percentage points (versus an 8‑point state gain) and an 11‑point increase on the algebra concepts and connections measure (versus an 8‑point state increase).

The district also highlighted advanced‑placement participation increases: AP course participation up 12.7 percent, AP exams taken up 21.6 percent, and the AP pass rate improving by six percentage points, with Eastside High School named to the College Board’s 2024 AP Honor Roll (bronze distinction).

Partnerships and community funding emerged as key elements of the literacy effort. Speakers thanked the Newton Education Foundation, the Newton County Chamber of Commerce and civic partners for funding and programming. Superintendent Bradley noted the district passed a $132 million special‑purpose local‑option sales tax (SPLOST) earlier this year, which he said will help reinforce buildings, upgrade safety systems, add athletic complexes and purchase energy‑efficient buses; he presented that as part of the community investment that enables instructional work.

The presentation included examples of direct services tied to partnerships: a vision‑screening initiative at 14 elementary schools that screened about 1,260 students and referred roughly 370 students for follow‑up care, with vouchers provided by the Covington Lions Club covering exams and two pairs of glasses (vouchers described in the speech as valued at $80 each). Washington Street Community Center and other local nonprofits were cited for after‑school supports and transportation partnerships.

District staff emphasized that the literacy initiative will combine teacher training, classroom resources, and partner supports: Tracy Blackburn and assistant superintendent Lauren Lamont described plans for an instructional framework that will define “excellence in teaching” for Newton County and support implementation of structured‑literacy practices. Teacher Taylor Moody, the districtwide Teacher of the Year from Newton College and Career Academy, and participating principals said teachers are already receiving REAP training and seeing changes in instructional practice.

Speakers framed literacy as a community responsibility, not only a classroom task. Education professionals at the event cited national adult literacy statistics and urged broader civic engagement to support early reading. Molly Melvin, identified in the presentation as an education professional, said the time is “now” to guarantee foundational skills for every child and called for business and civic partners to join schools in the work.

The address also included ceremonial recognitions (staff awards and the inaugural Almond J. Turner Legacy Award) and student testimonials meant to illustrate the human impact of instruction and supports, but the primary substantive announcement was the districtwide literacy focus and the concrete pilot and partnership activities already underway.

What’s next: District leaders said they will provide additional details about the literacy framework and workforce‑development plans in the coming months and urged community members to support classroom and family‑facing literacy efforts.