PreKindergarten
Whether you're an educator, a parent, an advocate, a community leader -- we're thrilled that you're joining Voices for Georgia's Children and the Department of Early Care and Learning to celebrate Georgia Pre-K Week 2022. Below are Powerpoint presentations with some important information about the Pre-K Program.
Building Blocks of Brain Development
Altamaha Elementary School Welcomes Representative Bill Werkheiser
for Georgia Pre-K Week
Superintendent Dr. Scarlett M. Copeland and AES Principal Mrs. Hollis welcomed State Representative Bill Werkheiser to Altamaha Elementary School on September 29, 2022 to celebrate Georgia’s Pre-K Program as part of Georgia Pre-K Week 2022. The event, which runs October 3-7, is organized each year by Voices for Georgia’s Children, a policy and advocacy non-profit organization, and supported by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning and other child-focused organizations.
Now in its 12th year, Georgia Pre-K Week raises awareness for the importance of quality early childhood education. Georgia’s Pre-K Program began 30 years ago, in 1992, and has grown from serving 750 children in its first year to approximately 73,000 annually.
“We are excited to have State Representative Bill Werkheiser visit one of our schools to show our children their community cares about their education,” said Dr. Scarlett Copeland, Superintendent of the Appling County School System. “The enthusiasm and support we receive from leaders across the state show they understand the value of quality early learning to ensure school readiness, higher graduation rates and lifelong empowerment.”
While there, State Representative Werkheiser participated in a reading activity with the children, talked with the staff, and got an up-close look at the many ways that the program is supporting early learning.
Georgia Pre-K Week is developed with the full support of the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). For the ninth consecutive year, Georgia Power has returned as corporate sponsor of Pre-K Week. Additional key supporters include various state commissioners, elected officials, as well as Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp.
“Perhaps the only thing more gratifying than seeing such appreciation of and commitment to Georgia’s Pre-K students and teachers by leaders from all levels and branches of government, as well as an array of private business professionals, is the fantastic return-on-investment evidenced by the millions of happy, healthy, and thriving four-year-old's Georgia’s Pre-K has served,” said Polly McKinney, Advocacy Director of Voices for Georgia's Children. “A considerable amount of research over the years has proven that children from quality early learning settings consistently arrive at kindergarten prepared and ready to learn. We are excited to show our Georgia Pre-K Week visitors a little bit of how that happens.”
About Voices for Georgia’s Children
Established in 2003, Voices for Georgia’s Children is a nonprofit child policy and advocacy organization that envisions a Georgia where all children will thrive because they are safe, healthy, educated, connected to family and community, and prepared to be productive and responsible citizens. Our mission is to promote equity, quality, and accessibility in systems created to serve children’s needs. We are dedicated to advancing policies and implementation actions that ensure the best possible outcomes for children. For more information, visit www.georgiavoices.org.
About Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia’s children and their families. It administers the nationally recognized Georgia Pre-K Program, licenses child care centers and home-based child care, administers Georgia’s Child and Parent Services (CAPS) program, federal nutrition programs, and manages Quality Rated, Georgia’s community powered child care rating system. The department also houses the Head Start State Collaboration Office, distributes federal funding to enhance the quality and availability of child care, and works collaboratively with Georgia child resource and referral agencies and organizations throughout the state to enhance early care and education. For more information, go to www.decal.ga.gov.
Please read below to find important facts about the Pre-K Program.
Building Blocks of Brain Development
GA's Pre-K Midpoint in Early Learning
Economics of Early Care in Georgia