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This week we’re talking about access to child care outside the traditional 9-to-5 workday. Recently DECAL offered hundreds of thousands of dollars in EXPAND Grants for Expanding Parents’ Access to Nontraditional Delivery. These were available to nonprofit organizations, government entities, and child care providers to support offering care during evenings and weekends giving more parents the support they need to work, attend classes, pursue training, and strengthen their family’s economic stability. So how did we do?  Joining us to talk about the EXPAND Grants and their impact on Georgia is Jill Taylor...

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Open Enrollment runs now through November 6, giving DECAL employees an important opportunity to review your benefits and make choices for the year ahead. Even if your current coverage is working well, this is the time to check for plan changes, confirm your information, and make sure your benefits still meet the needs of you and your family. Joining us to explain what employees need to know is Sabrina Henry, DECAL Senior Manager of Human Resources. 

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Every October, Georgia celebrates Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month, recognizing the many ways schools, child care programs, families, farmers, and community partners work together to help children build healthy habits early in life. The program introduces young children to fresh, local foods through hands-on food education, gardening experiences, taste testing, and the inclusion of Georgia-grown items in meals and snacks served through programs like CACFP, the National School Lunch Program and Happy Helpings. Joining us to talk about Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month is Monica...

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What makes a childcare program truly high quality? For families, quality begins with trust: knowing their children are safe, supervised, nurtured, and learning in an environment that supports healthy development. A recent media inquiry has placed new attention on how quality, safety, accountability, and public investment intersect. Let's get the real story from Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner for Child Care Services, and Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner of Quality Innovations and Partnerships.  

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This week we are at Building Kidz School in Roswell for the official kickoff of Georgia’s Pre-K Week, a statewide celebration of the teachers, families, partners, and young learners who make Georgia’s Pre-K Program such an important part of our communities. We’re joined by Coy Bowles, lead guitarist with Zac Brown Band and children’s author; Malcolm Mitchell, Super Bowl Champ, author, and founder of the Share the Magic Foundation; and Judy Fitzgerald, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children. 

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In October, DECAL is hitting the road. In partnership with Child Trends, we will host four regional DECAL Road Shows to bring agency updates, professional learning, resources, and DECAL staff directly to child care providers across Georgia. Each roadshow will include plenary session, breakout learning opportunities, and an Exhibition Hall with representatives from nearly every DECAL division and program area. Joining us to talk about the DECAL Roadshows happening this October is Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner of Quality Initiatives and Partnerships, and Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner of Child Care Services. 

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Each year, Georgia’s Pre-K Week gives state leaders, local officials, community partners, and families a chance to step inside Pre-K classrooms and see firsthand what quality early learning looks like. This year's observance is October 5-9, 2026. Joining us to talk about Georgia Pre-K Week is Judy Fitzgerald, Executive Director with Voices for Georgia’s Children, our longtime partner in Pre-K Week; Amy Browder, Director of Business Operations for Georgia’s Pre-K Program, and Devon Porter, Summer Transition Program and Outreach Manager. 

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Potty training is one of those big early childhood milestones that can bring excitement, questions, and sometimes a little stress for families and caregivers. Every child develops at their own pace, and success often depends less on a child’s age and more on signs of readiness, consistency, patience, and encouragement. For many families, knowing when to start, how to respond to accidents, and how to keep the process positive can make all the difference. Joining us to talk about potty training is Thea Stevens, Manager of our Infant and Toddler Program here at...

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Finding high quality child care is one of the most important decisions a family can make—and sometimes, one of the most overwhelming. That’s why DECAL created the Quality Rated Family Support Call Center, operating through the toll-free 1-877-ALL-GA-KIDS phone line. The team recently celebrated its first anniversary. Joining us to talk about the call center is Shayna Funke, Director of Research, Partnerships & Business Supports, and Katrina Bernard, Call Center Manager. 

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Keeping children safe on Georgia roads starts long before the car is in motion. For parents, grandparents, child care providers, and anyone transporting young children, choosing the right car seat or booster seat and using it correctly every time is one of the most important steps we can take to prevent injuries and save lives. Joining us to talk about child passenger safety in Georgia is Tomekia Hudson, CCS Technical Assistance Consultant, Emerson Lundy, Southwest Law Enforcement Liaison with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, and Jenny Harty, longtime advocate for child pa...

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Finding qualified substitute teachers can be one of the biggest challenges for childcare providers. When a teacher is out, programs still need to maintain safe, consistent, high-quality care for children—and that means having access to trained, dependable substitutes when they are needed most. Today on DECAL Download, we’re talking about a new resource designed to help meet that need: the GaPDS Substitute Teacher Registry. Joining us is Dr. Christi Moore, Director of Workforce Supports and Learning, and Dr. Mia Obiwo is our Workforce Policy and Process Administrator.  

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In June 2013 DECAL officially launched the Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards, or GELDS, replacing the Georgia Early Learning Standards for children birth to 3 and the Georgia Pre-K Content Standards for four-year-olds.  Now, in 2026, we are updating the GELDS designed to align early childhood standards with current research, including the Science of Reading, while continuing to support the whole child. Joining us to talk more about the GELDS update is Jan Duke, Georgia’s Pre-K Program Instructional Learning Manager and Kristen Arnold, Workforce Development Specialist. 

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Today we’re talking about a major step forward in how Georgia connects education, workforce development, and long-term economic opportunity. Effective July 1, 2026, the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement officially became the Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Strategy, or GOEWS. This new office builds on GOSA’s legacy of education accountability, research, and programs like the Governor’s Honors Program for a more coordinated approach to preparing Georgians for the jobs and opportunities of the future. Joining us to talk more about the Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Strategy is Fran Dund...

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This week we’re focused on the Georgia Public Library Service where a transition in taking place. After more than a decade of service, Julie Walker has retired and Angela Stanley has been appointed to succeed her as State Librarian and Vice Chancellor for Libraries & Archives. On this episode, we talk with them both! 

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This week we’re talking about an exciting new resource from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning: DECAL FAST, which stands for Family Access to Services & Tools. For families looking for high-quality child care or early education, DECAL FAST is designed to make the search easier, faster, and more user-friendly. Joining us to talk about DECAL FAST and how you can use it for your next childcare search is Sushma Sanissetty, Developer; Shravanthi Korada, IT Business Analyst; Sonja Steptoe, Assistant Director of Business Supports & Operations; and Bridget Ratajczak, Child & Family Development Ma...

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Across Georgia, a new school year is beginning, and that means thousands of four-year-olds are walking into Georgia’s Pre-K classrooms for the very first time. For many children and families, Pre-K is a first school experience, a chance to build confidence and independence, and an important step toward kindergarten and lifelong learning. Joining us to talk more about Georgia’s Pre-K Program and the start of a new school year is Susan Adams, Deputy Commissioner of Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports, Janika Young is Assistant Director of Pre-K Operations, and Maria...

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The early years of birth to five are a time of rapid growth in a child’s body, brain, and social-emotional development, and they can shape lifelong health and learning. Today, we’ll explore what parents, caregivers, and early childhood professionals should know about preventive care, nutrition, sleep, safety, developmental milestones, and when to seek support if something doesn’t seem quite right. This is our regular feature Small Wonders, partnering with the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Our special guest is Dr. Nicola Chin, President of Georgia Chapter of the Am...

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This week our focus is on Georgia’s 2Gen Leadership Academy…a first-of-its-kind, cross-agency program that brings together leaders from state government and nonprofits. Their goal is to help families thrive by supporting both children and the adults who care for them. The academy was developed by the Georgia Children’s Cabinet and facilitated by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Joining us to talk about Georgia’s 2Gen Academy are four recent graduates of the 4th cohort of the program, all from DECAL.  And they are Colette Bolds, CCS Special...

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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 Child Care Resource & Referral of Southeast Georgia in Savannah; Cindy Fick is Operations Director for Child Care Resource and Referral of Southwest Georgia in Albany; Ricci Lewis-Johnson is an Early Childhood Specialist with Leap Ea...

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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, and nationally recognized TV personality Judge Glenda Hatchett.  

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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 partnership is Chris Moses, Artistic Director with the Alliance Theater, Susan Adams is our Deputy Commissioner for Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports, and Devon Porter is Summer Transition Program and Outreach Manager.

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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.

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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 -University of Georgia; Zeniya Lukonde- Legal- Spelman College; Ana Onofre- Communications- Kennesaw State; and Shreya Shankar- QIP -Emory University. 

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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 Educators of the Year is Miranda Murphy, Practice and Support Services Outreach and Project Manager; Laura Wagner is Executive Director of the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning; and our Early Chil...

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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. 

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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! 

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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.

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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 all 10 benchmarks, and the first universal program to do so. 

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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 the project: CCS Coordinators Kaycee Purvis and Rebecca Mullinax and Consultants Kajora McCoy and Christina Jennings.  

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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 incidents of pediatric vehicular heatstroke. Joining us to talk about the Look Again campaign are Kesha McNeal and Rukiya Thomas with Child Care Services; Allen Poole is Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Robert Hydric...

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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 and emotional development also known as mental health. 

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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. Joining us this week to talk about the Summer Transition Program is Meghan McNail, Director for Pre-K Instruction and Regional Operations, and Devon Porter, Summer Transition Program and Outreach Manager. Also joinin...

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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 online resources, DECAL equips parents with the tools and support needed to make confident choices for summer care.

Joining us are Sonja Steptoe, Assistant Director of Business Supports and Operations, and Katrina Bernard...

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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 External Affairs Officer at the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), a national leader in community development financial services. Joining us to talk more about early childhood education in Georgia and her new role at...

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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 than a decade developing and sharing free, high-quality digital learning resources for Georgia's educators, students, and families. 

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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 Treasurer. Then, March 19, 2026, was Pre-K at the Capitol Day where Voices for Georgia's Children helped us announce the dates for this year's Georgia's Pre-K Week, October 5-9, 2026. We look back at the resolutions passed in th...

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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 Tamika Boone, Nutrition Services Director, and Cindy Kicklighter, Marketing and Outreach Manager, to talk about how they are fueling healthy futures, one plate at a time.

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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 Education in Georgia is Dr. Mia Obiwo, Workforce Policy and Process Administrator, and Stephen McGarity, Instructional Research and Data Quality Manager.

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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 provide safe, nurturing environments for children and their families. Joining us to talk about Audits & Compliance at DECAL is Ben Appling, Director of Audits & Compliance, LeighAnn Hendrix is CAPS Compliance Manager, and Aleisha Golden is Senior Manager of R...

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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 discuss the qualities we look for in candidates, and tips for navigating our hiring process. 

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