BACKGROUND
In September 2009, an executive order created the Georgia State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care (Council). The Council was established in response to federal legislation requiring that every state create a council to facilitate the development or enhancement of high quality systems of early childhood education and care designed to improve school readiness.

When Georgia’s Council began meeting in November 2009, the first order of business was to begin drafting an application for funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for monies to support the Council’s work in Georgia. The Council submitted the grant application in April 2010 and was awarded funding beginning July 2010.

In April 2011, Governor Nathan Deal issued a second executive order continuing the Council, reappointing most of the previous Council members while naming some new members. Links to the original executive order and the second executive order are located below.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Since being awarded funding, the Council has drafted an outline of a Comprehensive Plan that will direct the Council’s work for the next three years. The plan presents a vision for how Georgia should support young children and their families; an assessment of how Georgia is currently serving young children and their families; and a plan for getting from where the state is to where it should be.

A series of four public meetings were held at which parents; early childhood education and child care providers and professionals; researchers; policy makers; advocates; and the general public learned more about and commented on the Council’s proposed work as expressed in the Comprehensive Plan. A link to the Draft Outline of the Comprehensive Plan is located below.