By providing targeted coaching, training, and technical assistance, Georgia’s Child Care Resource and Referral agencies support programs in their continuous quality improvement efforts. This includes helping programs achieve, maintain, or enhance their Quality Rated star ratings. Additionally, CCR&Rs address specific regional needs by serving as workforce development hubs and connecting families with high-quality child care options. Workforce Supports and Learning supports the Child Care Resource & Referral agencies as they engage in this important work.

The DECAL Scholars program offers educational counseling and financial support to early childhood educators pursuing a degree or credential. The program also offers wage supplements for scholarship recipients while they pursue their credentials.

The Relationship-Based Professional Learning Team offers The Foundations of Coaching course, an opportunity to become a designated Georgia Early Learning Coach, and Early Learning Coaching Resources. For more information on early learning coaching contact earlylearningcoaching@decal.ga.gov

The Early Language and Literacy Lab, your online hub for high-quality language and literacy trainings and resources designed to support Georgia’s early learning educators, administrators, and professionals.

The Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS) provide guidance on what children from birth to age 5 should know and be able to do. The GELDS website includes resources, activities, sample lesson plans, and access to a lesson planning portal for early childhood educators.

Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS) is the workforce registry for Georgia’s early childhood educators, child care directors, trainers and DECAL employees. GaPDS allows users to update and track their education credentials, training information, employment information, other career data and demographic information as well as register for state approved training.

Georgia Training Approval supports individuals and organizations wishing to provide training to early childhood educators for state-approved licensing hours. Only DECAL-approved trainers and organizations may provide state-approved training. To learn more, visit the GaPDS and select Become an Approved Trainer or Become an Approved Sponsor Organization under the Trainer tab.

DECAL’s Online Learning Library Initiative (OLLI) provides free online trainings to Georgia’s early childhood educators. Topics include a variety of content areas and are available to anyone with a GaPDS account. All trainings are DECAL approved to count toward Georgia’s annual licensing requirements.

The Quality Rated Peer Support Network (PSN) was created by child care providers to create opportunities to share ideas, success stories, and lessons learned during the Quality Rated experience. Meetings of the PSN are facilitated by a PSN Ambassador, a representative from a 2-star or 3-star Quality Rated program. The Peer Support Network is open to all Quality Rated programs and those who are in the process of earning or increasing their Quality Rated star rating. The PSN is supported by specialists from Workforce Supports and Learning and each of the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. For more information about the PSN, contact qualityratedpsn@decal.ga.gov.

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are groups that come together regularly to explore challenges and issues that occur while working with young children and families. Members seek to improve their practice in ways that benefit young children. The Relationship-Based Professional Learning team offers in-depth training to early childhood educators interested in developing the knowledge and skills to facilitate PLCs. For more information about PLCs, contact proflearning@decal.ga.gov.

We have a variety of ways for you to connect with us! You can sign up for text updates, reach out via email, or follow Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning on social media.

Updates by text: To receive occasional text updates about Workforce Supports initiatives, text Workforce23 to 470.671.3444 (standard texting rates may apply).

Email: proflearning@decal.ga.gov.

Social media: Find links to the agency’s social media and other important news and updates by visiting DECAL’s home page.