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Episode 50 - Georgia's Pre-K Program is Back Aug 10, 2021

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School bells are ringing for more than 60,000 of Georgia’s youngest learners as Georgia’s Pre-K Program begins the new school year. The first day of Georgia’s Pre-K Program varies based on school system and child care provider. Joining us to talk about Georgia’s Pre-K Program and this 29th year of operation is Faith Duncan, Director of Field Operations for Georgia’s Pre-K Program, and Alice Lasseter, one of or Pre-K specialists working with teachers and assistant teachers in Georgia’s Pre-K Program.

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Episode 49 - Chat with Commissioner Jacobs Aug 02, 2021

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From the return of Georgia’s Pre-K Program to our return to in-person visits in child care programs, there’s a lot happening this week here at DECAL. Join us as we catch up with Commissioner Jacobs on a wide variety of topics, many taken from today's headlines.

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Episode 48 - Careers at DECAL Jul 27, 2021

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Here’s a fun fact: The single largest employer in the State of Georgia…is the State of Georgia. Georgia State Government is a large enterprise, composed of more than 80 entities with a common goal to improve the lives of Georgia's 10 million citizens. With nearly 68,000 employees, there are public service opportunities all across the state with positions located in all 159 counties. Joining us to talk about career opportunities here at DECAL is Sheryl Young-Wilhite, Senior Manager of Human Resources, and Mark Dock, Human Resources Supervisor.

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Episode 47 - We Care, Child Care Sweepstakes Jul 20, 2021

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It’s never too early to be thinking about your child’s college education…even for our youngest learners. Now four lucky children attending Georgia child care programs have a chance to get an early start on their college savings plan thanks to Path2College 529 Plan and the We Care Child Care Sweepstakes. Joining us is Mitch Seabaugh, Executive Director of the Path2College 529 Plan.

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Episode 46 - Meet Wanda Avant and Avant Learning Academy in Savannah Jul 13, 2021

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On June 25, Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, and Commissioner Jacobs visited one of our Summer Transition Program classes for Rising Kindergarten students at the Avant Learning Academy in Savannah. This is a Quality Rated Program offering Georgia’s Pre-K. Joining us today is Wanda Avant, owner and director of Avant Learning Academy.

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Episode 45 - Helping “Reluctant Readers” Jul 06, 2021

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We made some new friends recently in Savannah who are helping children discover a love for reading in a very unique way. During a visit to one of our Summer Transition Programs for Rising Kindergarten students, Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, and Commissioner Jacobs introduced Ron Binkney and Lucky, a Golden Retriever who has turned the page in literacy for early learners.

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Episode 44 - Planting SEEDS for a successful school year Jun 29, 2021

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Here in Georgia school starts back beginning in late July and August and our Inclusion and Behavioral Support Team wants to help families and teachers get ready with tips, strategies, and tools to promote social-emotional learning and minimize challenging behaviors, especially after a pandemic. The campaign is called “Planting SEEDS for a Successful School Year” using our SEEDS for Success Program and Helpline. Joining us to talk about “Planting SEEDS for a Successful School Year” is Allison O’Hara, Inclusion and Behavior Support Program Director, and Peggy Sutton, Inclusion and Behavior Support Specialist.

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Episode 43 - CAPS Program and ACCESS Jun 22, 2021

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Here’s some great news for families who receive CAPS scholarship assistance in paying for child care. Through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, DECAL has allocated around $95 million to help eligible Georgia families negatively impacted by the pandemic pay for child care. We’re using this historic investment in early learning to support families through a special initiative called ACCESS, which stands for Awarding Child Care Education Scholarship Supplements. Joining us to talk about ACCESS and the CAPS Program is Elisabetta Kasfir, Deputy Commissioner of CAPS; and Carolyn Morkeh, CAPS Family Support Manager.

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Episode 42 - Look Again Virtual News Conference Jun 15, 2021

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For the eighth consecutive year, DECAL is calling for families and caregivers of children to increase awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. On Thursday, May 27, 2021, we held this virtual news conference with the Georgia Department of Public Health and the University of Georgia.

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Episode 41 - New CAPS deadline for Quality Rated Jun 08, 2021

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Quality Rated is Georgia’s system to determine, improve, and communicate the quality of programs that provide child care. Similar to rating systems for restaurants and hotels, Quality Rated (which is a three star system) assigns one, two or three stars to early education and school-age care programs that meet or exceed the minimum state requirements. After launching in 2012, today fifty-five percent of all eligible child care programs in Georgia are Quality Rated.
As many may be aware, in 2015 DECAL established a CAPS/Quality Rated goal of all providers who participate in the CAPS program being Quality Rated by December 31, 2020. We were well on our way of achieving that goal. But then along comes a pandemic in 2020 and impacts this goal. The deadline has been extended to December 31, 2021.
Joining us to talk about CAPS and Quality Rated is Shawnell Johnson, Director of Operations for CAPS Program Administration; Denise Jenson, Quality Rated Operations Director, and Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships.

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