On January 10, 2012, several agencies signed an agreement designed to strengthen cooperative services to children with disabilities. Click the title to view the entire release and photo.
Georgia State Representative Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus) will join Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Commissioner Bobby Cagle to tour local child care facilities in the Columbus area on Wednesday, December 14, 2011. Click the title to view the media alert.
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is looking for eligible sponsors to serve nutritious meals to children throughout Georgia for the summer of 2012. The SFSP, administered by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (Bright from the Start), is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Click the title to read the news release.
"Caregivers Promoting Healthy Habits RFA correction made on the last page of the self-assessment (page 17)".
Bright from the Start announced the availability of the RFA Mini-Grant for Caregivers Promoting Healthy Habits.
Bright from the Start announces the availability of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) At Risk Afterschool Meals Program at eligible afterschool programs throughout the state. Click the title to read the entire news release.
At its November 17, 2011 meeting, the Bright from the Start Board passed the proposed rule amendments for exemptions (Rule 290-2-2-.05), and transportation requirements for child care learning centers (Rule 591-1-1-.36) and group day care homes (Rule 290-2-1-.11).
Beginning December 28, 2012, all Child Care Learning Centers, Group Day Care Homes and Family Day Care Homes in Georgia must use only compliant cribs that meet the new federal safety standards. For more details, click the title.
Georgia families looking for child care will have a new resource to help them find a child care center or family child care provider that offers quality care. Bright from the Start will launch a voluntary Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) to assess, improve and communicate the level of quality in early care and education programs. Click the title to view the entire news release.
Bright from the Start Commissioner Bobby Cagle has hit the road this week with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE)! He is one of 80 riders on their Annual Bus Trip Across Georgia. Be sure to follow his updated tweets at @DECALCommish.
Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning has issued a Notice of Public Hearing for Proposed Rulemaking and will be holding a public hearing regarding proposed transportation rule revisions for child care learning centers and group day care homes, and exemption rule revisions for child care learning centers. To view the Notice of Public Hearing memo click here.
Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning has learned that it will receive more than $340,000 in grant funding through the HealthierUS School Challenge. The grant will provide nutrition education materials, resources for children and parents and technical assistance. Click the Title to view the press release on the USDA's website.
On July 19, 2011, the Board of Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (Bright from the Start) adopted emergency rules for the Rules for Child Care Learning Centers (Chapter 591-1-1) and
the Rules for Group Day Care Homes (Chapter 290-2-1) regarding transportation requirements. Click the title to view the entire letter.
Pre-K Operating Guidelines for 2011-2012 have been posted.
Governor Nathan Deal recently issued an Executive Order regarding the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care. Click the title to read the entire order.
The FPG Child Development Institute at Chapel Hill has reported findings from their statewide study of the quality of early care and education in family day care homes. Click the title to find out more.
Bright from the Start has partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to increase awareness about asthma, the most common chronic childhood disease in the nation. Click title to view more details.
An innovative resource developed especially for Early Care and Education Professionals by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is now available.
1-877-ALL GA KIDS connects families with child care throughout state.