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Today we are on location at Scott Elementary School, one of the Atlanta Public Schools, as we celebrate Georgia’s Pre-K Week, with a very special guest who just happened to write the new book we are giving to all Georgia Pre-K students and their classrooms called “Hey Georgia.”  We’re talking about former New England Patriots and University of Georgia football wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell. 

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It’s a year of major milestones here at the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning…Quality Rated celebrates a Decade of Stars now marking ten years as Georgia’s Quality Rating and Improvement System…and this school year Georgia’s Pre-K Program celebrates 30 years of high quality early childhood education for the state’s four and five year olds.  But sandwiched in between all that is the 18th birthday of our agency as a whole.  Prior to 2004, the idea of a state department strictly for children under the age of five was unheard of…and yet it happened officially on October 1, 2004 with Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.  Joining us to talk about DECAL’s 18th birthday is Ben Scafidi, a former education policy advisor to Governor Sonny Perdue. Today Ben is a professor of economics and director of the Education Economics Center at Kennesaw State University.  

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This year DECAL and Voices for Georgia’s Children are celebrating the 12th Annual Georgia’s Pre-K Week, October 3-7…our thirtieth year offering Pre-K to students and families here in Georgia. Joining us to talk about Georgia Pre-K Week is State Representative Sharon Cooper, representing District 43 and the East Cobb County area, a frequent guest reader in Georgia’s Pre-K Program classrooms through the years; Polly McKinney, with Voices for Georgia’s Children and Susan Adams, Deputy Commissioner for Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports.  

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia received over $2-billion in federal money to help stabilize the child care industry, increase access to high quality child care for all families of young children, and support the state’s early childhood education workforce.  The money comes from the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and from the American Rescue Plan Act.  Now we are announcing how we will spend the remaining $400-million in a list of projects supporting child care providers, the ECE workforce, families, and other groups. In this episode, Deputy Commissioner of Georgia's Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports Susan Adams discusses projects supporting the ECE workforce. 

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Our very first DECAL Download podcast was September 24, 2018, and we began with a simple Chat with Commissioner Jacobs.  Over the past four years, these episodes have proven to be among our most popular so we always try to take some time for your questions gathered from our DECAL team and on our social media channels.  In this episode, Commissioner Jacobs discusses everything from the $2.1 billion DECAL received in COVID relief funding to the tenth anniversary of Quality Rated in Georgia, and how she celebrated by throwing the ceremonial first pitch for the Braves on September 4, 2022. 

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For the second year in a row, DECAL and the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning are seeking applications for the 2022-2023 Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year Program, recognizing  the teachers of our very youngest learners…infants, toddlers, and preschool. Joining us to talk about our Early Childhood Educators of the Year is Laura Wagner, Interim Executive Director for the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning; Thea Stevens, DECAL’s Infant Toddler Manager; and Rebecca Ellis, Director of Practice and Support Services.  

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Over the past few months, we’ve been taking a tour of DECAL’s six regions by talking to our Community Partnership Coordinators, representatives from our Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, and introducing you to child care providers in each region. Joining us to talk about the North East Region are Clayton Adams, Lead Community Partnership Coordinator for the North East; Dr. Victoria Long-Coleman, an Early Care and Education Specialist from Quality Care for Children; Elainne Aguilara, a Family Child Care Learning Home provider; Amy Kay, Director of the Child Development Lab at the McPhaul Center; and Janna Rookis, Peer Support Network Ambassador in Gwinnett County. 

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You have probably heard something about Quality Rated, Georgia’s child care rating and improvement system. But did you know that this year marks the 10th anniversary of Quality Rated here in Georgia…and were you aware that we are kicking off the celebration with the National Champion Atlanta Braves?  Joining us to talk about Quality Rated and the Decade of Stars Celebration is Sonja Steptoe, Communications and Outreach Manager for Quality Innovations and Partnerships; Denise Jenson is Quality Rated Director of Operations; and Dr. Bentley Ponder is Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships here at DECAL.  

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia received over $2-billion in federal money to help stabilize the child care industry, increase access to high quality child care for all families of young children, and support the state’s early childhood education workforce.  The money comes from the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and from the American Rescue Plan Act.  We are now announcing how we will spend the remaining $400-million in a list of projects supporting child care providers, the ECE workforce, families, and other groups. Joining us to discuss our plans for supporting child care providers is Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner of Child Care Services, and Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner of Quality Innovations and Partnerships.  

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Last month, Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs announced a new Interim Executive Director for the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning to replace outgoing director Carrie Ashbee who recently moved with her husband and daughter to Mobile, Alabama. Laura Wagner is no stranger to DECAL.  She comes to the new role from Quality Initiatives and Partnerships where she served Quality Rated and Partnerships Director. On this episode, we get to know Laura better.

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