DECAL Download Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning

It might be May but the Summer of 2024 is just around the corner…starts June 20 according to the calendar, but really kicks in sooner than that here in Georgia.  The question is….are you ready?  Joining us to talk about Summer Plans in Georgia is Sonja Steptoe, Communications and Outreach Manager in our Quality Innovations and Partnerships Division, Cindy Kicklighter is Nutrition Marketing and Outreach Manager in our Nutrition Division, and Devon Porter is Summer Transition Program and Outreach Manager in Georgia’s Pre-K Program. 
Support the Show.

This fall will be the 32nd year of Georgia’s Pre-K Program which now serves nearly 72,000 students statewide.  This year we are making significant improvements to PANDA, the Pre-K Application and Database Access system for providers. Joining us today to talk about Georgia’s Pre-K Program and the online improvements is Susan Adams, Deputy Commissioner for Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports, and Brian Griffin, Manager over the new GAPREK online system.
Support the Show.

In March, DECAL released the results of our most recent Economic Impact Study, which evaluates the importance of the early care and education industry to the state’s economy. This is the third Economic Impact Study we have commissioned, following the first in 2008 and the second in 2016. Like previous studies, this report is a collaboration between researchers at the Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Joining us to talk about the economic impact of the early care and education industry in Georgia is Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships, Rob O’Callaghan, Director of Institutional Research and Data Quality, and our special guests from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, researchers Dr. Peter Bluestone and Nicholas Warner. 
Support the Show.

DECAL will celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week in Georgia May 6-10, 2024, as we have done for the last four years in the first full week of May. Similar to Georgia’s Pre-K Week, and Inclusive Early Learning Week, this special week in May reminds us that the early years in a child’s life provide a key opportunity to establish safe and secure relationships and support healthy social and emotional development. Joining us to talk about Children’s Mental Health Week is our own, Laura Lucas, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Director at DECAL and our guests: Lisa Pace, Director of Operations from Georgia Parent Support Network (GPSN), Erin Harlow- Parker, Manager of Child Advocacy Programs, Behavioral Mental Health from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) and Maria Ramos, Senior Program Specialist from Voices for Georgia’s Children. 
Support the Show.

Despite advancements in technology and all of the screen time each of us total up in a month, the public library continues to be a popular place for individuals and families here in Georgia. There are 410 public libraries across the state…and that library card holds more value than ever.  With National Library Week coming up April 7-13, this is a great time to talk about the Georgia Public Library Service with Julie Walker, State Librarian and Vice Chancellor for Libraries and Archives, and Evan Bush, Director of Youth Services for the Georgia Public Library Service.  
Support the Show.

In December, DECAL and the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning announced our three winners for Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year for the 2023-2024 school year. Joining us today is Laura Wagner, Executive Director for the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning; Miranda Murphy is our Practice and Support Services Outreach and Project Manager.  And our very special guests….the Early Childhood Educators of the Year for 2023-2024, Noel Weimer from Water Oak Family Child Care Learning Home in Roswell is the infant teacher of the year; Bianca Brown from the Greenbriar School in Evans is the Toddler teacher of the year; and Chantelle Hester from Smart Starters Academy Family Child Care Learning Home in Savannah is the Preschool teacher of the year.  
Support the Show.