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It was December, 2013, when the US Department of Education and the US Department of Health and Human Services awarded Georgia the Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge Grant, totaling $51.7 million over four years.  This week, we look back at all that was accomplished in Georgia as a result of the grant.  Joining us are three key people in the project: Susan Adams, Deputy Commissioner for Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports; Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships; and from Chicago, former Deputy Commissioner for System Reform and now Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy with the Ounce of Prevention Fund Kristin Bernhard.  

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As we’re teaching Georgia’s youngest learners the importance of language, literacy, math, and social skills, it’s also important to help them develop healthy habits in eating and physical activity early on.  Joining us to talk about developing and maintaining healthy habits is Diana Myers, our new Nutrition Health Educator here at DECAL.  

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Community members and leaders from around the state are going back to school as part of Georgia Pre-K Week, an annual event to celebrate Georgia’s nationally recognized Pre-K program and other quality early learning centers.  This is our ninth year partnering with Voices for Georgia’s Children and the dates are October 7-11.  Joining us to talk about Georgia Pre-K Week and how your program can get involved is Dr. Erica Fener-Sitkoff, Executive Director at Voices for Georgia’s Children, and Liz Young, DECAL's Director of Government Relations and Special Projects.

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In 2011, the Georgia General Assembly authorized a longitudinal study of Georgia’s Pre-K Program to examine children’s learning outcomes and the quality of their classroom experiences.  This study is currently following over 1,100 children from Pre-K through the fifth grade.  Here to talk about the latest results is Susan Adams, Deputy Commissioner for Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports, and Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships.

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One of our strongest supporters and child advocates is GEEARS, the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students.  On this episode of DECAL Download, we take a closer look at GEEARS and its work here in Georgia with Executive Director Mindy Binderman.

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Research shows the more words you speak, sing, or read to your baby has an impact on how fast your child will learn to speak and read.  On this episode, we learn more about Project LITTLE for Lifting Infants and Toddlers Through Language-rich Environments.  Our guests are Nicole Wilson, Infant Toddler Program Manager for DECAL, and Bobbie Dent, Executive Director for The Phoenix School in Decatur.  

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After 26 years of administering Georgia’s Pre-K Program, we all know that students are better prepared for Kindergarten and excel in math, language, and literacy.  But how are those same students doing four years later, when they are tested at the end of third grade? DECAL Deputy Commissioners Susan Adams and Dr. Bentley Ponder discuss a recent Pre-K Study that looked at the relationship between participation in Georgia’s Pre-K and the Third-Grade Milestones assessment scores.  

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Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs responds to your questions from social media.

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All across Georgia, it’s Back to School time and that can have an impact on your whole family’s schedule and routine.  On this special edition of DECAL Download, we’re going to try and cover all of your questions for Back to School from starting Georgia’s Pre-K Program, to Before and After School care at your child care program, to how this impacts your CAPS scholarship.  

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A conversation with Dennis Brice, our new Chief Information Officer for DECAL.  Most recently Dennis was VP of Technology at McKesson and brings more than 25 years of engineering, strategic thinking, and broad IT experience to DECAL. 

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