Send us Fan Mail Finding qualified substitute teachers can be one of the biggest challenges for childcare providers. When a teacher is out, programs still need to maintain safe, consistent, high-quality care for children—and that means having access to trained, dependable substitutes when they are needed most. Today on DECAL Download, we’re talking about a new resource designed to help meet that need: the GaPDS Substitute Teacher Registry. Joining us is Dr. Christi Moore, Director of Workforc...

Send us Fan Mail In June 2013 DECAL officially launched the Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards, or GELDS, replacing the Georgia Early Learning Standards for children birth to 3 and the Georgia Pre-K Content Standards for four-year-olds. Now, in 2026, we are updating the GELDS designed to align early childhood standards with current research, including the Science of Reading, while continuing to support the whole child. Joining us to talk more about the GELDS update is Jan ...

Send us Fan Mail Today we’re talking about a major step forward in how Georgia connects education, workforce development, and long-term economic opportunity. Effective July 1, 2026, the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement officially became the Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Strategy, or GOEWS. This new office builds on GOSA’s legacy of education accountability, research, and programs like the Governor’s Honors Program for a more coordinated approach to preparing Georgians f...

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re focused on the Georgia Public Library Service where a transition in taking place. After more than a decade of service, Julie Walker has retired and Angela Stanley has been appointed to succeed her as State Librarian and Vice Chancellor for Libraries & Archives. On this episode, we talk with them both! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re talking about an exciting new resource from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning: DECAL FAST, which stands for Family Access to Services & Tools. For families looking for high-quality child care or early education, DECAL FAST is designed to make the search easier, faster, and more user-friendly. Joining us to talk about DECAL FAST and how you can use it for your next childcare search is Sushma Sanissetty, Developer; Shravanthi Korada, IT Busin...

Send us Fan Mail Across Georgia, a new school year is beginning, and that means thousands of four-year-olds are walking into Georgia’s Pre-K classrooms for the very first time. For many children and families, Pre-K is a first school experience, a chance to build confidence and independence, and an important step toward kindergarten and lifelong learning. Joining us to talk more about Georgia’s Pre-K Program and the start of a new school year is Susan Adams, Deputy Commissioner of Georgia’s Pr...

Send us Fan Mail The early years of birth to five are a time of rapid growth in a child’s body, brain, and social-emotional development, and they can shape lifelong health and learning. Today, we’ll explore what parents, caregivers, and early childhood professionals should know about preventive care, nutrition, sleep, safety, developmental milestones, and when to seek support if something doesn’t seem quite right. This is our regular feature Small Wonders, partnering with the Georgia Chapter ...

Send us Fan Mail This week our focus is on Georgia’s 2Gen Leadership Academy…a first-of-its-kind, cross-agency program that brings together leaders from state government and nonprofits. Their goal is to help families thrive by supporting both children and the adults who care for them. The academy was developed by the Georgia Children’s Cabinet and facilitated by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Joining us to talk about Georgia’s 2Gen Academy are four recent gra...

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re highlighting an important partnership that helps support the quality of child care in Georgia and strengthens the professionals who provide this care every day: our work with Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, or CCR&Rs. Joining us are Kristin Blevins, Professional Learning Specialist here at DECAL; Dana Driggers is Assistant Director of Operations for Child Care Resource & Referral of Southeast Georgia in Savannah; Cindy Fick is Operations Dir...

Send us Fan Mail Her name may strike fear in the hearts of litigants across the nation and around the world, but now TV’s Judge Hatchett has published a new book encouraging children ages 3-8 to dream boldly, build confidence, and see themselves as leaders, creators, and changemakers. Joining us for this week’s DECAL Download is Atlanta native, attorney, former Fulton County Juvenile Court Judge, and nationally recognized TV personality Judge Glenda Hatchett. Support the show