Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is committed to using the most up-to-date research to inform policy decisions across all major programs and initiatives. This includes conducting internal evaluations that are used to gauge the effectiveness of Bright from the Start’s programs and initiatives as well as supporting external research studies that demonstrate how major programs such as Georgia’s Pre-K and Quality Initiatives impact the lives of Georgia’s youngest children and their families.

Currently, the research unit at Bright from the Start is conducting an internal evaluation of the Resource Coordinator Program to show not only how this program enhances the Pre-K experience for many at-risk children attending Georgia’s Pre-K but also changes that could make the program more effective. In addition, the research unit is conducting interrater reliability studies in the Pre-K, Nutrition and Child Care Services divisions. These studies ensure that all consultants conduct their monitoring visits consistently. Upcoming projects include a joint partnership with the FPG Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on several evaluations related to federal stimulus funds received through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Since 2007, Bright from the Start has supported two major outside statewide research studies. In 2008, the Child Policy Partnership, consisting of researchers from the University of Georgia and Georgia State University, released the study: Economic Impact of the Early Care and Education Industry in Georgia. This study details the importance of the early care and education industry to Georgia’s economy. The study not only demonstrates the economic impact of providing care for children zero to five but also reports key demographics that are useful to all divisions within Bright from the Start and to interested parties across the state. The full report of this study along with other key documents can be found at: Economic Impact of Child Care Industry.

In 2010, researchers at the FPG Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill published two reports from their study of the quality of early care and education across Georgia. One report looks at quality in child care centers in infant toddler and preschool (non Georgia’s Pre-K) classrooms. The second report looks at quality in Georgia’s Pre-K classrooms. This important study provides a representative snapshot of quality across child care centers and Pre-K classrooms in Georgia. Since the release of the findings, BFTS has made numerous investments to improve the quality of child care and Pre-K across the state. The full reports, executive summaries and a Bright from the Start paper detailing department initiatives related to study findings can be found at: UNC-CH Study of Quality in Georgia.

Recently, the same researchers at FPG Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill published a second study related to child care quality across Georgia. This study, commissioned after the previous quality reports, focuses specifically on the quality of child care in family day care home settings. This study also provides a representative snapshot of quality across family day care home settings and identifies areas where key investments are needed. The full report, executive summary, and a Bright from the Start paper that summarizes the study and details recent initiatives related to improving quality across family day care home settings can be found at: UNC-CH Study of Quality in Georgia.

In 2010, Bright from the Start, utilizing American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, offered a Pre-K Summer Transition Program (STP). The six-week program focused on language and literacy growth. Results from the evaluation demonstrated that participating children made significant gains in language and literacy skills over the course of the program. Additional information and the report can be found here: Summer Pre-K Study. Bright from the Start was able to offer the program again in 2011. Those evaluation results will be published later in the year.

Any person or group interested in data or information pertaining to research should contact Dr. Bentley Ponder at bentley.ponder@decal.ga.gov or make a formal request at BFTSResearch@decal.ga.gov.

Research and evaluation work best when various partners collaborate and all voices are heard. To that end, Bright from the Start welcomes any feedback or comments pertaining to current or past studies. Please direct these to the email addresses above.