ATLANTA— The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) has released the application for new and returning providers of Georgia’s Pre-K Program for the 2020-2021 school year. The deadline for the application is Friday, January 24, 2020 at 5:00 PM EDT. 

Georgia’s Pre-K Program is an educational program for age-eligible children in Georgia funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education. To be eligible to apply for the Pre-K grant, an applicant must be a licensed child care program, local school system or a Head Start program. Programs are offered in a variety of settings: public schools; for profit and nonprofit child care learning centers; military bases, and faith-based organizations. 

To attend Georgia’s Pre-K in the 2020-2021 school year, a child must be four years old on or before September 1, 2020. Georgia’s Pre-K Program normally operates on the regular school system calendar for the length of a typical school day. This year, approximately 81,000 four-year-olds are being served in 3,859 Georgia’s Pre-K classes at 1,866 locations.

The purpose of the program is to prepare children for success in Kindergarten and later school years. Programs are offered in a variety of settings: public schools; for profit and nonprofit child care learning centers; military bases, and faith-based organizations.

“Since its beginning 27 years ago, Georgia’s Pre-K Program has grown and improved to meet the ever-changing needs of Georgia’s children and families,” said DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs. “Recent research supports that, on average, children’s skills in language/literacy, math, self-knowledge, and general knowledge gained during their Pre-K year were sustained through Kindergarten. These findings confirm that Pre-K provides the strong foundation needed for future learning.”
For more information about the application process for offering Georgia’s Pre-K Program, please email panda.support@decal.ga.gov.