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Send us Fan Mail This week we’re highlighting an important partnership that helps support the quality of child care in Georgia and strengthens the professionals who provide this care every day: our work with Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, or CCR&Rs. Joining us are Kristin Blevins, Professional Learning Specialist here at DECAL; Dana Driggers is Assistant Director of Operations for...

Send us Fan Mail Her name may strike fear in the hearts of litigants across the nation and around the world, but now TV’s Judge Hatchett has published a new book encouraging children ages 3-8 to dream boldly, build confidence, and see themselves as leaders, creators, and changemakers.  Joining us for this week’s DECAL Download is Atlanta native, attorney, former Fulton County Juvenile Court Judge,...

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re talking about the transformative power of arts education for young learners. All across Georgia, DECAL partners with the Alliance Theater in a program bringing drama, music, puppetry, and dance to enhance language, literacy, and math skills for rising Pre-K and Kindergarten students participating in our Summer Transition Program. Joining us to talk about our partne...

Send us Fan Mail Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs is the guest on this episode of Georgia Focus with John Clark, heard on more than 170 radio stations statewide on the Georgia News Network. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode we’re joined by a remarkable group of college interns who have spent the semester working with us. Throughout their time here, they’ve contributed their talents, learned new skills, and become a valued part of the DECAL team. Let's meet  Gabrielle Banks- Communications- Kennesaw State; Kiersten Harris- Pre-K- GA Military College; Tanvi Kattula- IT -Univ...

Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode spotlights our Georgia's Early Childhood Educators of the Year. On Friday, April 24, these inspiring teachers were honored along with our Georgia’s Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year at a luncheon hosted by the Metro Atlanta Chamber and sponsored by MTX Group Inc., the Georgia Lottery Corporation, and more. Joining us to talk about the Early Childhood Educ...

Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode we are reviewing legislative developments from the 2026 Georgia General Assembly and their effects on DECAL and early childcare and education across the state. With new laws and policies shaping the future of Georgia's youngest learners, we'll unpack what these changes mean for families, providers, and the broader community.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode is all about “Quality Rated Myth Busters,” where we'll bust some common misconceptions and shine a light on how Georgia’s Quality Rated system really works. If you’ve ever wondered how early care and education programs are assessed, improved, and recognized for their efforts, you’re in the right place!  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Today, we’re looking at Child Care Services and some new resources they’ve created to make compliance easier and more approachable for early childhood programs. Through a new Resource Suite, CCS has taken comprehensive guidance documents and broken them down into manageable, topic-focused resources that use everyday language and offer practical tips for success. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode is dedicated to a truly historic moment: On April 22, Governor Brian Kemp announced that Georgia’s Pre-K Program has met all 10 of 10 quality benchmarks established by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), positioning the state as a national leader in early childhood education. Georgia Pre-K is the largest program in the nation to meet al...

Send us Fan Mail Our Child Care Services Division is inviting all providers to a special Lunch and Learn, happening on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at noon.  They’re looking specifically at required reports…which can be confusing. Sometimes providers are submitting reports they don’t need to, or missing the ones that are essential. Joining us to talk about the CCS Lunch and Learn is the team working on...

Send us Fan Mail Each year, DECAL’s Look Again campaign serves as a crucial reminder for parents, caregivers, and educators about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. We're proud to highlight the collaborative efforts with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, joining forces to raise awareness and prevent tragic inci...

Send us Fan Mail DECAL celebrates Children’s Mental Health Week in Georgia May 4th – 8th, as we have done for the last six years in the first full week of May. Similar to Georgia’s Pre-K Week, and Inclusive Early Learning Week, this special week in May reminds us that the early years in a child’s life provide a key opportunity to establish safe and secure relationships and support healthy social a...

Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode, we’re talking about the Georgia’s Pre-K Summer Transition Program, a dynamic initiative that is held during June and July, offering high-quality instruction with a focus on language, literacy, and math. The STP has proven to reduce the achievement gap among young learners and provide essential support for children as they prepare for Pre-K and Kindergarten....

Send us Fan Mail It's never too early to start planning a summer your children will remember! In this episode, we dive into how the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is making it easier for families to find safe, affordable, and high-quality summer camps. Whether you're seeking guidance from knowledgeable call center specialists, using a handy checklist, or exploring...

Send us Fan Mail For nearly two decades, Mindy Binderman has been a nonprofit leader and advocate for early childhood policy here in Georgia dedicating her career to advocacy, policy development, and driving systemic change. Recently the founding Executive Director of the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students or GEEARS announced that she will soon take on the new role of Chief Extern...

Send us Fan Mail High-quality educational programming plays a critical role for children from birth to age five, as these early years are foundational for brain development, language acquisition, social-emotional growth, and the establishment of lifelong learning habits. Today we’re excited to welcome back Laura Evans, Vice President of Education at Georgia Public Broadcasting who has spent more t...

Send us Fan Mail Planning for college can start earlier than many families realize. DECAL and Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan are sponsoring the annual Path from Pre-K to College Sweepstakes, an initiative to help families begin saving for their children’s education while they are still in Pre-K. Joining us is Bethany Whetzel,  Treasury Program Director for Georgia's Office of the State Treas...

Send us Fan Mail Across the country, from March 15th to the 21st, we are shining a spotlight on the providers, the sponsors, and the food service professionals who are quite literally stirring goodness into the lives of children and adults. Today we’re going beyond the meal patterns and the paperwork to talk about the real-world impact of the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Joining us today is...

Send us Fan Mail On today’s episode, we’re looking into the findings of a recent study examining the early childhood care and education workforce in Georgia. We'll explore the challenges educators face, the opportunities for professional growth, and how these insights could shape the future of early childhood learning across the state. Joining us to talk about the State of Early Care and Educ...

Send us Fan Mail In a field where the well-being and developmental growth of our youngest children is at stake, it’s essential that standards, policies, and regulations are upheld with diligence and integrity. DECAL’s Audits and Compliance Team serves as the guardians of quality, ensuring that early childhood programs across Georgia meet state requirements, maintain financial transparency, and pro...

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re delving into a topic that’s both exciting and essential: hiring at DECAL. Whether you’re interested in joining our team or just curious about what it takes to work in state government --- specifically early care and learning --- this episode is for you. Joining us to talk about hiring at DECAL is Sheryl Young-Wilhite, our director of Human Resources, who is here to...

Send us Fan Mail DECAL Scholars is a transformative initiative designed to support early childhood educators on their journey to earning a degree or credential. From personalized educational counseling to scholarship assistance, DECAL Scholars is making a real difference for those who dedicate their careers to giving Georgia’s youngest learners the best possible start. Joining us this week to talk...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode we’re focusing on an exciting opportunity for Pre-K programs here in Georgia: the Pre-K Classroom Refurbishment Funding. These funds bring a chance to further enhance learning environments with a one-time payment of $15,000 per eligible classroom. Joining us to talk about Pre-K Classroom Refurbishment Funding is Meghan McNail, Director for Georgia’s Pre-K Program I...

Send us Fan Mail Nutrition plays a crucial role in early care settings by supporting children's growth, development, and ability to learn. Establishing healthy eating habits during these formative years sets the foundation for lifelong wellness and academic success. We recently welcomed back to DECAL Monica Griffin, our new Nutrition Education and Physical Activity Supervisor. Monica brings o...