Stay up-to-date on the latest news about early childhood from GEEARS, our early childhood partners across the nation, and from media outlets.
By: Harvard School of the Developing Child It’s truly been a year like no other since we issued a statement in March 2020 about the COVID-19 pandemic that was rapidly sweeping around the world. Our primary aim for that statement was to honor first responders, health care workers, and front-line service providers—especially those supporting young children and […]
By: Janice Yu, Fox 5 Atlanta ATLANTA – The childcare industry in Georgia is expected to see a big boost in funding soon. The coronavirus relief bill that was signed by President Joe Biden on Monday will pump more than a billion dollars into things like daycares and programs for young children in the state. The past year […]
By: WABE President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan last week, which includes $39 billion for the childcare industry. Georgia expects to receive about $1.57 billion to support childcare providers in the state. The coronavirus pandemic was financially devastating for some centers. Georgia didn’t require providers to close, but some had to out of necessity. According to […]
By: U.S. News and World Report A Georgia Senate committee is supporting a plan to give three weeks of paid parental leave to state workers, teachers and university employees. The Senate Insurance and Labor Committee unanimously voted for House Bill 146 on Tuesday, sending it to the Senate for possible final passage. Nearly 250,000 workers could […]
By: Mindy Binderman, Executive Director, GEEARS The American Rescue Plan of 2021, signed into law by President Biden yesterday, includes critical and historic measures to reduce childhood poverty, support struggling families, ensure child and caregiver health and well-being, stabilize the child care industry, and expand access to child care for working families. The pandemic has taken a significant toll on American families, creating increased […]
By: Mindy Binderman for Saporta Report Earlier this year, GEEARS hosted Georgia’s fourth annual Strolling Thunder. In partnership with ZERO TO THREE, this special event brought together infants, toddlers, and their families to urge policymakers to make the needs of Georgia’s youngest learners a statewide priority—for stronger families, vibrant communities, and a prosperous state. Please watch our video to learn […]
Check out the latest #DECALDownload podcast! This week’s conversation covers the latest information on COVID-19 vaccines for Pre-K and child care teachers and staff, plus updated COVID-19 guidance for licensed Georgia child care programs. About this episode: Last summer, DECAL joined the Governor’s Office and the Georgia Department of Public Health in providing COVID-19 guidance […]
By: Brookings Institution In a recent statement, President Joe Biden called out the “acute, immediate child care crisis in America.” His American Rescue Plan includes $25 billion earmarked as an emergency stabilization fund for child-care providers. This investment, alongside an additional $15 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant program and an expanded tax credit, has […]
By: Mindy Binderman for Saporta Report Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, few workers have been as essential as Georgia’s early education professionals. They have been on the front lines, working tirelessly to teach, love, and care for our youngest learners and allowing their parents to work. These early childhood educators deserve our recognition […]
By: AP News State-funded prekindergarten and child care teachers in Georgia will get $1,000 bonuses alongside K-12 teachers, thanks to a big increase in federal coronavirus aid. Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning Commissioner Amy Jacobs told The Associated Press Wednesday in an exclusive interview that her department would use about $65 million of […]