ATLANTA (AP/WAOK) – Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal are partnering with state education officials and others to hold a statewide reading competition.

The Deals, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Commissioner Bobby Cagle and State School Superintendent John Barge have proclaimed March as Read Across Georgia month.

As part of the celebration, state education officials are sponsoring Georgia Reads Aloud day March 19. Classrooms across the state are encouraged to enter a contest for the most books read between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. The winning class is set to receive a special visit from First Lady Deal and Cagle.

Last year, students read nearly 14,000 books within 13 hours. The event is part of Gov. Deal’s goal of having children reading at grade level by third grade.