From 2020-2023, DECAL received $2B+ in federal relief funds, fueling initiatives for Georgia’s child care providers, workforce & families. Dive into the impact w/ insights from DECAL & Child Trends. Joining us to talk about COVID-19 rel...

DECAL has recently announced the launch of our Quality Rated Workforce Bonus payments, a groundbreaking effort that stands among the first of its kind in the nation. This initiative underscores DECAL's unwavering commitment to investing in our ...

For the twelfth consecutive year, DECAL is reminding families and caregivers of children to increase their awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. This year’s “Look Again” campaign aims to ensure that families, chil...

Today, we're discussing the pivotal changes and initiatives that are reshaping literacy training in Georgia. Beginning July 1, all child care providers will be required to obtain at least 2 hours of state-approved language and literacy training...

This week we’re diving into an impactful program designed for early care and education professionals called Physical Activity Learning Sessions, or PALS. This training initiative is centered on enhancing the knowledge of physical activity best ...

In 2024, film and television productions spent $2.6 billion in Georgia. If you’re a parent or know someone with young children who want to get into the world of TV and movies, today’s episode is for you. Whether it’s a background role or even t...

DECAL will celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week in Georgia May 5th – 9th, as we have done for the last five years during the first full week of May. Similar to Georgia’s Pre-K Week, and Inclusive Early Learning Week, this special week remind...

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...