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Send us Fan Mail This week we’re preparing to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Inclusive Early Learning Week, happening all across Georgia February 9-13, just before Valentine's Day. This milestone event honors a decade of commitment to supporting children with disabilities and their families. Joining us to talk about Inclusive Early Learning Week is Katie Hagan, SEEDS Program Director, and...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we’re diving into highlights of the annual Media Symposium hosted by the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, held on January 9, 2026. One of the standout sessions was a dynamic panel focused on early learning, featuring Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships, Kristen Bernhard with Primrose Schools, Shawnell Johnson with...

Send us Fan Mail On Monday, January 12, 2026, the Georgia General Assembly continues its 158th session…which began with the 2025 General Assembly in the traditional two-year cycle. It gets pretty busy around the Gold Dome and even here next door at the Twin Towers. From budget battles and education reform to healthcare, transportation, and election law changes, there is a lot going on. Joining us...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we are excited to shine a light on Helping Mamas, a remarkable nonprofit organization here in Georgia dedicated to connecting essential baby supplies to families in need. From diapers and wipes to car seats and strollers, Helping Mamas plays a critical role in ensuring every child has the basics for a healthy start in life. Joining us to talk about Helping Mamas is Jami...

Send us Fan Mail Some Georgia high school students are getting a jump start on their careers in early childhood education by taking classes on the subject as early as high school. For example, Maxwell High School of Technology in Gwinnett County offers early childhood education offerings that include a fully operational Georgia’s Pre-K Program classroom.  Joining us to talk about the program is Ka...

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re excited to talk with the talented college interns who joined us during the 2025 fall semester and learn more about the projects they tackled, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.  We are proud to introduce Ariana Banhan from Georgia Tech, Christine Bonaparte from Emory University, Jaida Hayes from Clayton State University, Kiersten Harris from Georgia Mi...

Send us Fan Mail This week an insightful conversation with Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs as she shares updates on early childhood education, key initiatives shaping the future of Georgia’s youngest learners, and what’s ahead for families and providers. In this candid discussion, Commissioner Jacobs answers listener questions, highlights recent accomplishments, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at h...

Send us Fan Mail Today a special episode of DECAL Download coming to you from Brunswick, Georgia…the site of a recent media event announcing the launch of Chop, Look & Listen, our new statewide campaign to prevent children from choking during meal times at child care, at home, or anywhere. Joining us today to talk about Chop, Look and Listen is State Rep Dr. Rick Townsend who represents this a...

Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode, we’re taking you outside the studio to Seven Branches Academy in Alpharetta, Georgia, where October 28 we held the first of two Chop Look Listen events. This groundbreaking statewide initiative is all about keeping our youngest learners safe from one of the most preventable risks in child care: choking. Every year, thousands of children nationwide are treat...

Send us Fan Mail For many kids across Georgia, summer vacation means more fun and free time. But for kids facing food insecurity, made worse by COVID’s impact on already tight-family budgets, no school can also mean limited access to affordable, nutritious foods.  That's where Happy Helpings comes in…it’s the summer food service program funded by USDA and administered by DECAL. Joining us tod...

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re introducing a new feature on DECAL Download called Small Wonders.  Partnering with the American Academy of Pediatrics, Small Wonders will bring you trusted expert advice on raising young children from birth to age five. Joining us for this first installment of Small Wonders is Dr. Nicola Chin, a pediatrician here in metro Atlanta. Dr. Chin is a native of Jamaica, W...

Send us Fan Mail Meals and snacks can be dangerous. Choking accidents remain a leading cause of injury and even death among young children both in child care settings and at home.  In 2024, Georgia suffered two incidents where toddlers in child care choked while eating fruit and later died…one in Brunswick and one in Alpharetta. In response to those tragedies, DECAL has created a new campaign to e...

Send us Fan Mail On September 30, DECAL named our new Georgia Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year for the 2025-2026 school year with surprise visits to their classrooms.  We were thrilled to spotlight two remarkable educators who have shown exceptional commitment and passion for early childhood education and today we get to meet them both personally. Joining us are your new Georgia’s Pre-K Program...

Send us Fan Mail Today we’re discussing a topic that’s bringing well-deserved recognition—and financial support—to the educators who are the backbone of our child care system: the Quality Rated Workforce Bonuses. Funded by DECAL, this annual $500 bonus is a way to say “thank you” to the teachers and staff who go above and beyond in serving children and families. Joining us with an update on the Qu...

Send us Fan Mail Open Enrollment for health benefits is a pivotal time for employees here at DECAL. During this annual window…this year October 20 to November 8…staff members can review, select, or update their health insurance and related coverage options to best meet their needs and those of their families. Joining us to talk about Open Enrollment is Sabrina Henry, Senior Manager of Human Resour...

Send us Fan Mail It's Georgia Pre-K Week and we're talking with Coy Bowles, a Grammy award-winning guitarist for the Zac Brown Band and advocate for children’s education and creativity, and Malcolm Mitchell, former Georgia Bulldog, Super Bowl champion, and literacy advocate, about their new book Every Amazing Story. The book takes young readers on a creative journey that shows every chil...

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re excited to spotlight a very special occasion: the 15th annual Georgia’s Pre-K Week, taking place October 6th through 10th, 2025. For fifteen years, this tradition has united leaders and communities across Georgia to celebrate the power of early education. Again this year we are partnering with Voices for Georgia’s Children, and we have a very special book for every...

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re talking with the Georgia Foundation of Early Care and Learning about a new round of Early Literacy Alignment Mini-Grants. With up to $5,000 in funding, these grants bring public elementary schools and local child care programs together to foster innovative, vertically aligned literacy practices.  Joining us to talk about the Early Literacy Alignment Mini-Grants is...

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re focusing on a topic that’s essential for the safety and well-being of our youngest learners, criminal background checks. Whether you are a parent, provider, or educator, understanding how DECAL conducts these checks is crucial to ensuring that our early care environments remain safe and trustworthy. Joining us to talk about Criminal Background Checks in Georgia is...

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re talking about a significant development that promises to enhance support for families in our community. DECAL has created the Quality Rated Family Support Call Center that can be reached through the popular 877-ALL-GA KIDS phone number the agency created many years ago. Joining us to talk about the new Quality Rated Family Support Call Center is Sonja Steptoe, Assi...

Send us Fan Mail The third cohort of the Georgia 2Gen Academy celebrated its graduation in early June marking a significant milestone in the state’s commitment to fostering holistic support for children and families. Joining us to talk about their experience with Georgia’s 2Gen Academy are Quandra Obi, Special Assistant to Commissioner Jacobs and Board Liaison, Bridget Ratajczak, DECAL’s Child and...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we’re shining a spotlight on a vital aspect of child care—preparing for provider inspections. Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned pro, the inspection process can feel daunting, but knowledge is the key to confidence. That’s why CCS has been offering a series of Lunch & Learn webinars breaking down what providers need to know before, during, and after inspectio...

Send us Fan Mail Today we’re talking about the recent digital transformation of the DECAL Homepage at decal.ga.gov, freshly updated as of June 30. The new Homepage is more intuitive than ever, streamlining the user experience and putting information right at your fingertips. Plus, with the addition of the innovative Ask CALI chatbot, finding answers and navigating resources has never been easier....

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re turning our attention to one of the most important milestones in early childhood education: preparing for Georgia’s Pre-K Program. We have assembled a panel of experts to explore what families, educators, and communities can do to ensure children are ready for a successful year of learning and growth. Joining us this week are Georgia’s Pre-K Program Specialists Ali...

Send us Fan Mail For the second time, DECAL has awarded Community Impact Grants—a bold step aimed at closing opportunity gaps and fostering long-term positive outcomes for children birth to eight and their families. Designed to encourage collaboration across sectors, Community Impact Grants challenge non-profits, school systems, and government entities to come together and craft community-specific...