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

Today we are diving into a topic that impacts just about everyone in this age where technology is a part of our day-to-day lives. That topic is how to protect our “personally identifiable information”, also known as PII and application security...

Recently administrators and advocates for early childhood education visited the State Capitol where the House and Senate proclaimed that Georgia’s Pre-K Week will be observed October 6-10, 2025, with legislators visiting classrooms to read to o...

Today, we're excited to share significant changes happening within DECAL’s Community Partnership Team. In a bold move to enhance collaboration and engagement, the team is shifting its outreach strategy from a broad regional approach to a more f...

On this week’s podcast, we’re thrilled to announce that DECAL’s own Workforce Supports Supervisor Angela Shelton has been accepted into the 2025 cohort of the National Association of State Leaders in Early Education (NASLEE) Leadership Academy....

The CAPS 2Gen Student Parent Pilot is an innovative initiative launched by DECAL in collaboration with the Technical College System of Georgia and WorkSource Georgia OneStops. This pilot program focuses on supporting the Student Parent Priority...

Today we are discussing a critical issue: preventing choking in childcare settings. Choking is a leading cause of injury and even death in young children, but it is preventable with the right knowledge and practice. Joining us to talk about the...

If you’re passionate about teaching in Georgia’s Pre-K Program, making a difference in the lives of young learners, and want to be recognized for your hard work, this episode is for you!  DECAL is now accepting applications for Georgia’s P...

For the fourth consecutive year, DECAL and the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning are recognizing three individuals as Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year for 2024-2025. Joining us to talk about serving as Georgia’s Earl...

The 2025 Georgia General Assembly is in session and one of the heavy lifts, as usual, is the Governor’s budget for FY2026. Joining us to talk about the proposed FY2026 state budget and its impact on DECAL is Rian Ringsrud, Deputy Commissioner o...

This week we’re diving into an exciting new addition to one of Atlanta’s cultural gems. In January, the Atlanta History Center unveiled a brand-new 5,000 square foot interactive exhibit where children ages 1-8 can experience the city through pl...

The Georgia Foundation for Early Care + Learning, in partnership with the Georgia Foundation for Public Education, is excited to announce the second round of funding for the Early Literacy Alignment Mini Grants. These grants aim to support loca...

Children in inclusive high-quality childcare programs learn to be accepting of others and knowledgeable about the unique abilities of others. When childcare providers offer inclusive care, they meet the educational needs of each child allowing ...

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...