Homelessness is a growing concern in Georgia, with close to 10-thousand people across the state facing housing instability due to poverty, rising housing costs, unemployment, and systemic barriers to affordable housing. The impact of homelessne...

Today we’re shining a spotlight on the next generation of leaders and innovators who are making their mark in early care, education, as well as other areas.  We are talking with our amazing interns….bright, passionate individuals who have ...

A grant administered by DECAL and the Technical College System of Georgia is helping identify and pay for the tuition of adult education students looking to work in early childhood education…a field that has seen a severe shortage of qualified ...

Opening Day for the 2025 Georgia General Assembly is Monday, January 13, and on today’s podcast, as lawmakers head back to the state capitol, we’re previewing some of the key issues, proposed bills, and political dynamics to watch. Joining us t...

It’s never too early to be thinking about your child’s college education…even for our youngest learners, ages birth to five.  Now four lucky children in Georgia are getting an early start on their college savings plan thanks to Path2Colleg...

In October at our All Staff Meeting, we recognized five DECAL employees with Spirit of DECAL Awards.  More than 800 employees nominate their peers who personify one or more of the five DECAL Values , which are Delivering Stellar Customer S...

The Board of Early Care and Learning is DECAL’s 14-member advisory board that meets quarterly to help support the agency’s mission and vision throughout the year. Governor Brian Kemp appoints members to the board based on the congressional dist...

In today’s increasingly digital world, safeguarding personal data and securing online assets are more critical than ever. As cyber threats continue to evolve, the demand for legal experts who can navigate the complexities of cyber security and ...

When the Georgia General Assembly passed legislation in 2023 focused on improving literacy among students kindergarten to third grade, they called for the appointment of a Statewide Literacy Coach to serve the Georgia Council on Literacy. They ...

DECAL has named its Georgia’s Pre-K Teachers of the Year for the 2024-2025 school year and it was just in time for our 14th annual Georgia’s Pre-K Week. We name a winner from a public school and private school, and this year’s winners are from ...

If you’re looking for financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, child care and more, there is a one-stop shop for community resources near you! It’s called Find Help Georgia, a comprehensive online directory to help strengthen families...

Last month more than 800 DECAL employees gathered at the Cobb Galleria Center for our All Staff Meeting. This event officially celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, as well as the 10th anniversary...

Open Enrollment for the State Health Benefits Plan runs now through November 8. It’s a very important time of the year, as many employees are re-evaluating their health needs and seeking to protect their financial well-being. Joining us to talk...

From Calhoun to Savannah, our Quality Rated and CAPS teams have been holding stakeholder meetings all across Georgia to highlight policy revisions happening with both programs beginning this month. With pandemic relief funding ending, DECAL has...

As the foundation of a child’s educational journey, early childhood education is pivotal, yet the professionals who dedicate their lives to this field often face unique challenges that require our attention.  Recently DECAL’s Workforce Sup...

Today we’re unpacking a critical issue that touches nearly every family in Georgia: the State of Child Care.  Recently our Child Care Services Division completed a comprehensive study on the current state of child care across the state, es...

Voices for Georgia’s Children and DECAL are proud to announce that the 14th annual Georgia Pre-K Week is set to take place from October 7th to 11th, 2024. This event celebrates the 32nd year of Georgia’s Pre-K Program and highlights the importa...

When you think about DECAL, you think about CAPS, Child Care Services, Georgia’s Pre-K Program, Nutrition…but we also hope you think about our support services like SEEDS which stands for Social Emotional Early Development Strategies.  Thi...

This week we’re highlighting early childhood workforce development opportunities in the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health space. Joining us is DECAL’s Laura Lucas, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Director, Dr. Bentley Ponder, De...

Since Fall 2019, DECAL has had a group of volunteers working in their communities to share information with families about the resources available in our state. Our DECAL Family Peer Ambassadors are fathers, mothers, grandparents, foster parent...

The third week in September is Care Seat Safety Awareness Week which focuses on the proper use of car safety seats for children. The national campaign urges parents and caregivers to protect their children making sure they secure them in the co...

Licensed Family Child Care Learning Homes and Child Care Learning Centers in Georgia who are two or three-star Quality Rated are eligible for grants aimed at fostering early language and literacy skills of infants and toddlers. The LITTLE grant...

New data from the CDC here in Atlanta show that vaccinations among kindergarteners has declined to its lowest level in decades and an estimated 750,000 young learners entered kindergarten during the COVID-19 pandemic who were not up to date on ...

The second class of a two-generation academy created by Commissioner Jacobs has now graduated. The Georgia 2Gen Academy is presented each year by the Georgia Children’s Cabinet and facilitated by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the U...

As the new school year approaches, thousands of children across Georgia are getting ready to take their first steps into the world of structured learning in Georgia’s nationally recognized Pre-K Program. It’s an exciting time, but it can also b...