The POWER is ON!
In February, Governor Brian Kemp and Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs announced plans for $1,000 supplemental payments to all eligible early learning professionals and staff here in Georgia. Now known as POWER, for Providing Our Workforce Essential Recognition, these payments are a small yet significant way to recognize the dedication and hard work shown during the COVID-19 pandemic. POWER is funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
As we roll out the POWER supplemental payments, we will post all our communications here. If you need more information, please e-mail supplementalpayments@decal.ga.gov.
A key part of our distribution of payments is the Georgia Professional Development System, known as GaPDS, our workforce registry, which can be accessed at https://gapds.decal.ga.gov/. It is imperative that every eligible employee have a PDS number to receive their payment. Directors should be encouraging any employee who does not have a profile to register on GaPDS immediately.
From May 17-June 11, 2021, directors will have a four-week application (verification) period for confirming all eligible employees. The director will print out a POWER specific notarized affidavit for verification of lawful presence and employment for each employee, have them complete the verification with supporting documentation, and then upload this information into the DECAL KOALA application.
Beginning in June, employees will receive an e-mail and survey from Care Solutions explaining next steps for receiving their payments. It is important that employees check their computer filters and spam files to make sure they receive this e-mail.
DECAL will continue to communicate with the early learning workforce through our website at decal.ga.gov, as well as e-mails and social media. Thank you for your support of quality early childhood education here in Georgia throughout the year, but especially during this public health emergency. The dedication and passion of this workforce for children and their families is really what’s “unprecedented.”
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