Who We Are

Founded in 2017 by the Governor’s office and the state legislature, the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy’s charge is to improve reading outcomes for the children of Georgia. Former Governor Deal and First Lady Sandra Dunagan Deal made literacy and early childhood education a priority during Governor Deal’s tenure. Housed at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, the Deal Center works tirelessly to provide research, professional learning, and community engagement throughout the state. Through a number of partnerships at local and state levels, we collaborate to promote a novel approach for a fully transformed birth through age eight system to put all children on the path to reading success.