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Episode 50 - Project LITTLE Aug 21, 2019

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Research shows the more words you speak, sing, or read to your baby has an impact on how fast your child will learn to speak and read. On this episode, we learn more about Project LITTLE for Lifting Infants and Toddlers Through Language-rich Environments. Our guests are Nicole Wilson, Infant Toddler Program Manager for DECAL, and Bobbie Dent, Executive Director for The Phoenix School in Decatur.

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Episode 49 - Diane Early Study on Georgia's Pre-K Program Aug 14, 2019

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After 26 years of administering Georgia’s Pre-K Program, we all know that students are better prepared for Kindergarten and excel in math, language, and literacy. But how are those same students doing four years later, when they are tested at the end of third grade? DECAL Deputy Commissioners Susan Adams and Dr. Bentley Ponder discuss a recent Pre-K Study that looked at the relationship between participation in Georgia’s Pre-K and the Third-Grade Milestones assessment scores.

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Episode 48 - A Chat with Commissioner Jacobs Aug 07, 2019

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Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs responds to your questions from social media.

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Episode 47 - Back to School Special Jul 31, 2019

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All across Georgia, it’s Back to School time and that can have an impact on your whole family’s schedule and routine. On this special edition of DECAL Download, we’re going to try and cover all of your questions for Back to School from starting Georgia’s Pre-K Program, to Before and After School care at your child care program, to how this impacts your CAPS scholarship.

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Episode 46 - Meet Chief Information Officer Dennis Brice Jul 24, 2019

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A conversation with Dennis Brice, our new Chief Information Officer for DECAL. Most recently Dennis was VP of Technology at McKesson and brings more than 25 years of engineering, strategic thinking, and broad IT experience to DECAL.

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Episode 45 - School Age Programs Jul 17, 2019

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When you think about child care outside the home, you might think about infants, toddlers, or Pre-K students…but for many families it also includes after-school care for children ages five and up. In Georgia, over 2,700 licensed child care programs offer after-school care, and over 45-percent of our CAPS scholarships help pay for it. Here to talk about school-age programs in Georgia is Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner of Child Care Services; Melissa Davis, Director for CCS Quality Operations, and Michelle Garris, School Age Specialist for DECAL.

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Episode 44 - Summer Meals Program Jul 10, 2019

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Each year, Bright from the Start administers the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program, created to ensure that children 18 and under can continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they don’t have access to lunch or breakfast at school. Here to talk about this effort in Georgia is Cindy Kicklighter, Nutrition Marketing and Outreach Manager, and Phyllis Oliver, Nutrition Director with the Chattooga County Schools.

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Episode 43 - We Care Child Care Sweepstakes Jul 03, 2019

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Back in the Spring, we told you about the Path from Pre-K to College Sweepstakes where four students in Georgia's Pre-K Program received scholarships of $1,529 from Path2College 529 Plan. This summer, four more children will have a chance at one of those scholarships in the We Care Child Care Sweepstakes. Here to talk about the sweepstakes is Mitch Seabaugh, Executive Director of the Path2College 529 Plan.

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Episode 42 - DIY Summer School Jun 26, 2019

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School’s out for summer….but beware the Summer Brain Drain! That’s when many children experience learning loss because they’re not engaged in educational activities during the summer. Joining us to talk about DIY Summer School is Faith Duncan, Field Operations Director for Georgia’s Pre-K Program, and Demetria Joyce, Instructional Learning Manager.

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Episode 41 - Summer Transition Program Jun 19, 2019

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For most kids, summer means school’s out…but for some younger high-risk children in Georgia, it’s a critical time for them to prepare to enter Georgia’s Pre-K Program or Kindergarten in the fall. Our Summer Transition Program is currently underway and continues through July 12. Our guests are Meghan McNail, Summer Transition and Outreach Manager, and Julie Barnett with Kindercare, a childcare provider offering the program in multiple locations.

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