Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov

Bobby D. Cagle, MSWCommissioner

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL)

Business Community Advisory CommitteeJuly 24, 2012

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 27/24/2012

AgendaWelcome – Commissioner Cagle DECAL Advisory NetworkChange the First Five Years and You

Change Everything-VideoOverview of DECAL Programs

Child Care ServicesQuality InitiativesGeorgia’s Pre-K ProgramNutrition Services

Opportunities for Business PartnershipsGEEARS – Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students

Mindy Binderman, Executive DirectorVoices for Georgia’s Children

Pat Willis, Executive DirectorBusiness Community FeedbackQuestions and AnswersUseful Resources

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 37/24/2012

DECAL Advisory Network

Launched January, 2012

Made up of 12 committees

Engages over 100 Georgia citizens interested in early childhood education and care

Fosters improved communication with the community

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 47/24/2012

DECAL Advisory Committees

DECALGeorgia’s

Pre-K Program

Child Care Services

Quality Initiatives

Business Community

Faith Based Programs

Nutrition Services

Philanthropy

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 57/24/2012

Change the First Five Years Video

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 67/24/2012

DECAL Overview - Child Care Services

Licenses 6,300 facilitiesServes 376,650 children and familiesFamily Child Care, Group Child Care, and Child Care Learning Centers

Provides opportunities for participation in other DECAL programs and services

Many on the call are Georgia businesses who provide employer sponsored child care programs

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 77/24/2012

DECAL Overview – Quality Initiatives

.Over 700 programs participating

Georgia Program for Infant and Toddler Care (GAPITC)Technical AssistanceTrainingWebsite (GAPITC.org)

Statewide Inclusion ProjectInclusion CoordinatorsTraining

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 87/24/2012

DECAL Overview - Quality Initiatives

Child and Parent Services (CAPS)Child Care SubsidyTiered Reimbursement

Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&R)

SCHOLARSHIPS and INCENTIVES

Accreditation Facilitation Projects

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 97/24/2012

DECAL Overview - Georgia’s Pre-K Program

Key Components of the ProgramUniversalityStandards Based InstructionParent ChoicePublic/Private PartnershipsHigh Quality – Meets 10/10 quality standardsFunded by the Georgia Lottery for Education

Celebrating 20 years this school year!

2012-2013: 84,000 slots statewide

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 107/24/2012

DECAL Overview - Nutrition Services

USDA Food ProgramsChild and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

USDA provides funding for nutritious meals

Both programs help alleviate hunger and malnutrition

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 117/24/2012

GEEARS - Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students

Mindy Binderman, Executive Director

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 127/24/2012

GEEARS - Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students

GEEARS was established in 2010

Vision: By 2020, all of Georgia's children will enter school prepared to succeed and on a path to read to learn by 3rd grade.

Mission: To inspire and lead a statewide movement to maximize the return on investment for quality early learning and healthy development for children ages birth to five.

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 137/24/2012

GEEARS - Opportunities for Business Partnerships

2013 National Business Leaders SummitPlanned for Fall, 2013 to coincide with East Lake Golf Tournament

Centerpiece will be a joint statement of support for quality early learning for CEO’s

Opportunity to spotlight Georgia as a national leader

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Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 147/24/2012

GEEARS – Other Opportunities for Business Partnerships

Educate employees on early brain development and importance of quality early learning

Work with DECAL, GEEARS, and Georgia Family Connection Partnership to support Quality Rated

Help GEEARS and other partners advocate for children birth to five at the State Capitol

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 157/24/2012

Voices for Georgia’s Children

Pat Willis, Executive Director

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 167/24/2012

Voices for Georgia’s Children

Mission: To be a powerful, unifying voice for a public agenda that will improve the wellbeing of all of Georgia’s children

Policy Agenda for Children: Early Childhood, Health, Youth in Transition

Strategies: Information resource, convener, coalition builder, lobbyist

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 177/24/2012

Voices for Georgia’s Children

Critical Issues for Advocacy for Young Children

State investment in children from birth to five yearsStabilize funding for Children First: Early screening and identification of health and developmental problemsMaximize participation in Quality RatedIncrease access to child care subsidiesRestore Resource Coordinators to Georgia’s Pre-KFully fund Georgia’s Pre-K

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 187/24/2012

Business Community Feedback

Please tell us about what you are already doing in early childhood education.

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 197/24/2012

Questions and Answers

From a business perspective, how can we work with you to promote high quality childhood education?

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 207/24/2012

Contact Information

Commissioner Bobby Cagle Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning

Bobby.Cagle@decal.ga.gov(404) 651-7432

Pat Willis, Executive Director Voices for Georgia's Children

PWillis@georgiavoices.org(404) 521-0311

Mindy BindermanGEEARS-Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students

MBinderman@geears.org(678) 689-3482

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learningwww.decal.ga.gov 217/24/2012

Useful ResourcesGeorgia Department of Early Care and Learning

www.decal.ga.govGeorgia Program for Infant and Toddler Care

www.gapitc.org Voices for Georgia’s Children

www.georgiavoices.orgGEEARS-Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students

www.geears.orgChange the First Five Years video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbSp88PBe9E