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Georgia legislation mandates literacy coaching statewide By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com
DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA
Trader Joes plans to expand in Metro Atlanta with a new location in Johns Creek’s Medley mixed-use development on Medlock Bridge Road.
Trader Joe’s to open location in Johns Creek By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Trader Joe’s is coming to Johns Creek. The national grocery chain is planning to expand to a location at 1000 Medley Blvd., the company’s website said. To be located at the upcoming Medley mixed-use center, the site is near Medlock Bridge and McGinnis Ferry roads. Economic Development Director Kim Allonce said the store is expected to open before the completion of Medley in the fall. The first Trader Joe’s opened in 1967 in Pasadena, Calif. Since then, the company has expanded to more than 40 states. There are at least eight locations in Metro Atlanta, including stores in Alpharetta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Norcross and Marietta. The grocery chain said it is committed to offering unique, high-quality products with friendly customer service. To secure a spot on shelves, products must pass a tasting panel process.
See JOE, Page 20
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Medley, a mixed-use center, is under construction April 10. Slated for completion in the fall, the center will host a Trader Joe’s.
ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers have passed a sweeping education bill that requires literacy coaches, mandates science of reading instruction and implements first-grade retention standards. According to the Georgia Council on Literacy, more than 60 percent of third graders in Georgia do not read proficiently. “Not only is it a huge issue for us to resolve from the workforce, it’s a huge issue for us to resolve from a dollar standpoint,” Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, said during the March 31 Senate floor session. “If only 29 percent of kids are reading on grade level, then that doesn’t work well for employers. It doesn’t work well for families, and it certainly doesn’t work well for schools.” House Bill 1193, known as the Georgia Early Literacy Act, requires literacy coaches to be in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms. The state will fund one literacy coach per public school. It also creates regional literacy coaches. There will be 1,313 literacy coaches across the state. “We state that literacy coaches in each school shouldn’t be doing other things. They should spend no less than 70 percent of the school day in the classroom,” Tillery said. “We don’t want them to have other administrative duties.”
See LITERACY, Page 18
HEATHER LEE C: 404.455.9506 | HeatherLee@HOMEgeorgia.com | @heatherleehomesga