Author Archives: Learn4Life

By Marsha Francis PhD, Executive Director, STE(A)M Truck Something encouraging is happening in metro Atlanta’s classrooms. After years of pandemic-related setbacks, our students are bouncing back—especially in mathematics. The 2024–25 Georgia Milestones showed math proficiency improved across most grade levels statewide, with students in grades four and eight exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Atlanta Public Schools saw […]

By Taylor Hall Metro Atlanta continues to make progress in some education outcomes, yet wide and persistent gaps remain. The 2025 State of Education in Metro Atlanta report outlines the most pressing obstacles facing students today—and elevates the strategies showing real promise in improving learning and opportunity across the region. Learn4Life released its ninth annual […]

Kennesaw State University (KSU), the Atlanta Speech School, and Learn4Life are proud to announce the launch of the Impactful Read Alouds in Early Literacy Microcredential, a first-of-its-kind professional learning opportunity designed to strengthen early literacy in Georgia communities. This new microcredential empowers families, civic leaders, volunteers, and community members with practical tools to foster a […]

By ArtsNOW Literacy is a challenge across metro Atlanta, but progress is possible. Newly released Georgia Milestones data from the 2024-2025 school year shows that only 38 percent of third-grade students in the region are reading proficiently, a 3-point decrease from last year. While this reality underscores the urgency of the work ahead, it also […]

By Dr. Rebecca Parshall This school year, Learn4Life is launching The Atlanta Vision Project — a bold effort to bring free eye exams and glasses to every elementary student in metro Atlanta who needs them. And there’s a simple, no-cost way for you to help: the PEACH Education Tax Credit. This isn’t a donation. It’s […]

By Damian Ramsey College wasn’t part of my original plan. Maybe I didn’t believe it was meant for someone like me. But people and programs changed that. They helped me see what was possible and guided me forward. One of those programs was the Bruce Wells Scholars Upward Bound Program at Clark University. Part of […]

By Tenicia Winston Designing education without student input is like planting a garden without knowing what kind of soil, sunlight, or care the plants need. Every student—like every plant—has unique conditions under which they thrive. And more often than not, they already know what helps them grow best. Yet too often, students are left out […]

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 […]

By Dr. Rebecca Parshall In metro Atlanta, a transformative effort called The Atlanta Vision Project is setting out to provide vision screenings, eye exams, and glasses to every elementary school-aged student in need, at no cost to students or their families. Aimed at addressing the challenge of accessing vision care, this initiative has clear objectives: […]

By Lisa Liedke and Meredith MacKenzie Imagine all children entering kindergarten, having been immersed in words, stories, and songs from the very start of life. At Wellstar, we believe every child deserves this foundation. That’s why we are integrating early healthy brain development, language acquisition, and literacy fundamentals to ensure that every child can find […]

By Leslie Hazle Bussey, Ph.D. There are two ways to think about teacher retention. One, as the word “retain” implies, is to accept as natural and unchangeable that teachers will want to leave, while making it difficult for them to do so. Another approach is best illustrated by the attracting force that is a fire […]

By Damian Ramsey, MSW The long awaited financial aid overhaul that took place this year has been coined the “FAFSA Fiasco.” Revamped for the first time in 40 years, the new FAFSA was supposed to simplify what has historically been an overly complicated process to secure aid to pay for college (2-year, 4-year, or technical […]

By: Taylor Ramsey, Executive Director, OneGoal Metro Atlanta Last month, OneGoal Metro Atlanta hosted our third annual Student Summit at Clayton State University where 600 OneGoal juniors and seniors from across the metro area came together for a day of inspiration, connection and empowerment as they pursue their postsecondary goals. During the event, students explored […]

By Dr. Rebecca Parshall Metro Atlanta’s literacy crisis is real: just 41% of 3rd graders scored proficient on last year’s English Language Arts exam. Fortunately, solutions are also real and underway. A large body of research in ‘the science of reading’ shows how to build young readers, and it’s everyone’s responsibility. Over the last few […]

By Tenicia Winston Cross-sector partners from throughout the region gathered at the Metro Atlanta Chamber for the seventh annual ‘State of Education in Metro Atlanta,’ presented by Learn4Life (L4L). While this year’s annual report shows that far too many students across metro Atlanta are struggling, ‘Bright Spots’ in our community prove that with the right […]

By: Damian Ramsey, MSW Picture this scenario: A student asks their teacher, “Which party do you believe upholds the most democratic principles, Democrats or Republicans?” How should the teacher answer? Imagine another student tells their teacher, “I dislike that you said people don’t vote because it’s dangerous. That’s your personal opinion, and it’s fear mongering […]

By Tenicia Winston In June of this year, the Supreme Court struck down the use of race as a factor in college admissions. This means that the already difficult goal of diversifying college admissions and enrollment just got harder, but there are paths forward. While the full consequences of this decision are not yet clear […]

By Damian Ramsey  While student exploration in college is generally considered a good thing, there is a hidden cost to students changing their majors after their first year. Changing majors after sophomore year has been linked to declines in college graduation, extended time to degree, and increased  student debt. Students change majors for many reasons. […]