After months of research and consultation with literacy experts across the state, the HCSD is excited to have selected Benchmark Workshop as the core literacy program.  Benchmark Workshop is a core reading program reflective of the components of structured literacy as outlined in the Georgia Early Literacy Act (HB 538).  The Georgia High-Quality Instructional Materials Committee rated Benchmark Workshop as “Strongly Recommended”, their highest rating. Print and digital materials will be available to all kindergarten through 5th-grade students. If you would like to know more visit: https://benchmarkworkshop.com/georgia/

All kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers are going to participate in the most intensive literacy professional development that has been undertaken in the Hall County School District. Teachers and administrators will complete over twenty-six hours of online literacy modules about “The Science of Reading” that have been provided by the Georgia Department of Education with an additional eight hours of in-person instruction.   Additionally, these educators will receive grade-level-specific training on Benchmark Workshop totaling twenty-four hours over the 2024-2025 school year.