ATLANTA — As Georgia lawmakers head back to the Capitol for the 2026 legislative session, House Speaker Jon Burns and the state’s top education leaders say their focus will be on literacy, classrooms, and strengthening the state’s future workforce.
Burns outlined his priorities during a recent news conference, saying the House will push hardest this year on improving literacy, shoring up Georgia’s medical workforce, and cutting the burden of property taxes on homeowners.
Education reform, he said, will again be front and center — including a possible expansion of the state’s school cellphone ban.
“You’ll see us move this session, I do believe, to ban cellphones in high schools,” Burns said. “Because so many jurisdictions around the state have already done that as well.”
Georgia lawmakers already passed a statewide ban on student cellphone use through eighth grade last year. Now, leaders are considering whether that policy should be extended to high school students.
Education leaders outline their own agenda
At the same time, education advocates are rolling out their priorities for the session that begins Monday, Jan. 12.
At an event hosted by Georgia Public Broadcasting in Atlanta, Matt Smith of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education presented the group’s annual “Top 10 Issues” list for 2026 — a roadmap of policies education leaders believe would have the greatest impact on student success and the state’s economy.
Smith said the list is driven by research and long-term outcomes.
“What are the high-impact strategies that would affect whether or not folks have educational attainment and personal wellbeing and economic stability?” Smith said.
Among the top concerns: increasing the number of teachers working in Georgia, strengthening early literacy, and making sure students get the most value from college and career programs.
Education remains the largest single item in Georgia’s budget, and legislative leaders have already indicated that literacy and early childhood education will be at the top of their funding and policy agenda in 2026.
State School Superintendent Richard Woods voiced his support for expanding the state’s cellphone ban into high school.
The 2026 Georgia legislative session officially begins Monday, Jan. 12
GPB News contributed to this article
