Early Childhood Care Education

Georgia introduced its latest set of high-quality, research-based early learning standards for children birth to age five called the Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS). The GELDS promote quality learning experiences for children and address the question, "What should children from birth to age five know and be able to do?

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is pleased to offer a variety of supplemental resources to support early learning programs in implementing the GELDS

All Georgia Resource & Referral agencies are offering a GELDS training course called Standards 101: How to Use the GELDS. Programs can sign up for GELDS training through their local R&R Agency.

Bright from the Start is responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia’s children and their families. It administers the nationally recognized Georgia’s Pre-K Program, licenses child care centers and home-based child care, administers Georgia's Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program, federal nutrition programs, and manages Quality Rated, Georgia’s community powered child care rating system.

Parents and caregivers need an independent, trustworthy resource to help them find quality child care, preschool and Pre-K programs. That’s where Georgia’s Quality Rated comes in.

arge number of young children in Georgia are cared for outside their homes each day. In Georgia there are approximately 3100 child care learning centers, 1500 family child care learning homes and 6500 exempt programs. It is important that these settings be safe, healthy, and nurturing, as well as offer quality early learning experiences to support and promote the healthy growth and development of young children.

policies in this link are included in the ongoing revisions but are currently posted for the purposes of the Child Care and Development Fund state plan

Choosing child care is one of the most important decisions a family will make. Families can make informed decisions by visiting programs and obtaining current information.

Background checks for Childcare Providers and Staff in Georgia.

Georgia law requires annual license fees for all licensed child care programs

DECAL’s Professional Learning Unit helps early learning professionals become their best selves. We strengthen the capacity of the early learning workforce through innovative tools, resources, and guidance.

This section contains the current rules and regulations for registered Support Centers and licensed child care programs. The two types of programs are: child care learning centers and family child care learning homes.

A large number of young children in Georgia are cared for outside their homes each day. In Georgia there are approximately 3100 child care learning centers, 1500 family child care learning homes and 6500 exempt programs. It is important that these settings be safe, healthy, and nurturing, as well as offer quality early learning experiences to support and promote the healthy growth and development of young children.