Georgia’s Child Care Resource and Referral agencies provide training and technical assistance to programs working toward a Quality Rated star rating. The Professional Learning Unit supports the Child Care Resource & Referral agencies as they do 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 a variety of early learning coaching resources and professional learning experiences. For more information on early learning coaching, contact proflearning@decal.ga.gov.

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. GaPDS users can keep track of their credentials, certifications, and employment history 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 Peer Support Network (PSN) facilitates quarterly meetings supporting networks of providers throughout the state. Child care providers can share ideas, success stories, and lessons learned during the Quality Rated experience. For more information about the PSN, contact proflearning@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.

DECAL’s Professional Learning Unit has initiated several projects to support entry into Georgia’s early childhood workforce, increase workforce retention, and increase access to credentials and training for those new to the field. While focused on increasing access to the Child Development Credential (CDA), additional support is available to early childhood educators as they earn credentials and expand their career pathways. The DECAL Scholars program provides financial support to those interested in pursuing a degree or credential, as well as support to their employer to keep the classroom staffed while they attend classes. For more information visit https://www.decal.ga.gov/InstructionalSupports/WorkforceSupportUpdates.aspx