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DECAL Download

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning

Your source for news and information from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. You will hear from Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs and special guests to give you an update on all things DECAL. Have a question, comment, or suggestion? Call 404-656-0239 or email us at decaldownload@decal.ga.gov.

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26 episodes
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Avg 38 min
English

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Episodes 26

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S9 · E5
Thursday · 34 min
Episode 5 - Georgia's Pre-K Week 2026
Send us Fan Mail Each year, Georgia’s Pre-K Week gives state leaders, local officials, community partners, and families a chance to step inside Pre-K classrooms and see firsthand what quality early learning looks like. This year's observance is October 5-9, 2026. Joining us to talk about Georgia Pre-K Week is Judy Fitzgerald, Executive Director with Voices for Georgia’s Children, our longtime partner in Pre-K Week; Amy Browder, Director of Business Operations for Georgia’s Pre-K Program, and Devon Porter, Summer Transition Program and Outreach Manager. Support the show
S9 · E4
September 21 · 34 min
Episode 4 Potty Training
Send us Fan Mail Potty training is one of those big early childhood milestones that can bring excitement, questions, and sometimes a little stress for families and caregivers. Every child develops at their own pace, and success often depends less on a child’s age and more on signs of readiness, consistency, patience, and encouragement. For many families, knowing when to start, how to respond to accidents, and how to keep the process positive can make all the difference. Joining us to talk about potty training is Thea Stevens, Manager of our Infant and Toddler Program here at DECAL; Bridget Ratajczak, our Child and Family Development Outreach Manager, and from Child Care Services, Technical Assistance Consultant Tomekia Hudson. Support the show
S9 · E3
September 15 · 28 min
Episode 3 - Quality Rated Family Support Call Center
Send us Fan Mail Finding high quality child care is one of the most important decisions a family can make—and sometimes, one of the most overwhelming. That’s why DECAL created the Quality Rated Family Support Call Center, operating through the toll-free 1-877-ALL-GA-KIDS phone line. The team recently celebrated its first anniversary. Joining us to talk about the call center is Shayna Funke, Director of Research, Partnerships & Business Supports, and Katrina Bernard, Call Center Manager. Support the show
S9 · E2
September 5 · 30 min
Episode 2 - Child Passenger Safety
Send us Fan Mail Keeping children safe on Georgia roads starts long before the car is in motion. For parents, grandparents, child care providers, and anyone transporting young children, choosing the right car seat or booster seat and using it correctly every time is one of the most important steps we can take to prevent injuries and save lives. Joining us to talk about child passenger safety in Georgia is Tomekia Hudson, CCS Technical Assistance Consultant, Emerson Lundy, Southwest Law Enforcement Liaison with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, and Jenny Harty, longtime advocate for child passenger safety and author of Francie & Fitz Booster Buddies, children’s books promoting child passenger safety. Support the show
S9 · E1
September 1 · 29 min
Episode 1 - GaPDS Substitute Registery
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 Workforce Supports and Learning, and Dr. Mia Obiwo is our Workforce Policy and Process Administrator. Support the show
S8 · E49
August 24 · 30 min
Episode 49 - New GELDS
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 Duke, Georgia’s Pre-K Program Instructional Learning Manager and Kristen Arnold, Workforce Development Specialist. Support the show
S8 · E48
August 18 · 26 min
Episode 48 - Governor’s Office of Education & Workforce Strategy
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 for the jobs and opportunities of the future. Joining us to talk more about the Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Strategy is Fran Dundore, who was appointed by Governor Kemp as the agency’s first Executive Director. Support the show
S8 · E47
August 9 · 54 min
Episode 47 - Georgia Public Library Service
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
S8 · E46
August 2 · 38 min
Episode 46 - DECAL FAST
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 Business Analyst; Sonja Steptoe, Assistant Director of Business Supports & Operations; and Bridget Ratajczak, Child & Family Development Manager. Support the show
S8 · E45
July 24 · 48 min
Episode 45 - Preparing for Pre-K + We Care Childcare Sweepstakes
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 Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports, Janika Young is Assistant Director of Pre-K Operations, and Maria Moor is Quality Support Specialist. Then we check in with Bethany Whetzel with Georgia's Office of the State Treasurer as the July 31 deadline approaches for this year's We Care Child Care Sweepstakes. Support the show
S8 · E44
July 21 · 37 min
Episode 44 - Small Wonders
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 of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Our special guest is Dr. Nicola Chin, President of Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Chin is a pediatrician in Atlanta and is affiliated with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. She received her medical degree from Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Support the show
S8 · E43
July 13 · 38 min
Episode 43 - Georgia's 2Gen Leadership Academy
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 graduates of the 4th cohort of the program, all from DECAL. And they are Colette Bolds, CCS Special Investigations Manager; Shayna Funke, Director of Research Partnerships & Business Support; Melinda Knowles, CAPS 2Gen Strategies and Partnerships Project Manager; and Mia Obiwo, Workforce Policy and Process Administrator. Support the show
S8 · E42
July 6 · 45 min
Episode 42 - Meet the CCR&Rs
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 Director for Child Care Resource and Referral of Southwest Georgia in Albany; Ricci Lewis-Johnson is an Early Childhood Specialist with Leap Early Learning Partners in Augusta; and Kristen Groover with Quality Care for Children: Central West in Atlanta. Support the show
S8 · E41
June 27 · 39 min
Episode 41 - Judge Glenda Hatchett
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
S8 · E40
June 23 · 38 min
Episode 40 - STP & Alliance Theater
Send us Fan Mail This week we’re talking about the transformative power of arts education for young learners. All across Georgia, DECAL partners with the Alliance Theater in a program bringing drama, music, puppetry, and dance to enhance language, literacy, and math skills for rising Pre-K and Kindergarten students participating in our Summer Transition Program. Joining us to talk about our partnership is Chris Moses, Artistic Director with the Alliance Theater, Susan Adams is our Deputy Commissioner for Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports, and Devon Porter is Summer Transition Program and Outreach Manager. Support the show
S8 · E39
June 22 · 26 min
Episode 39 - Commissioner Jacobs on Georgia Focus
Send us Fan Mail Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs is the guest on this episode of Georgia Focus with John Clark, heard on more than 170 radio stations statewide on the Georgia News Network. Support the show
S8 · E38
June 17 · 32 min
Episode 38 - Meet the Interns
Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode we’re joined by a remarkable group of college interns who have spent the semester working with us. Throughout their time here, they’ve contributed their talents, learned new skills, and become a valued part of the DECAL team. Let's meet Gabrielle Banks- Communications- Kennesaw State; Kiersten Harris- Pre-K- GA Military College; Tanvi Kattula- IT -University of Georgia; Zeniya Lukonde- Legal- Spelman College; Ana Onofre- Communications- Kennesaw State; and Shreya Shankar- QIP -Emory University. Support the show
S8 · E37
June 8 · 40 min
Episode 37 - Meet the 2025-2026 Georgia Early Childhood Educators
Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode spotlights our Georgia's Early Childhood Educators of the Year. On Friday, April 24, these inspiring teachers were honored along with our Georgia’s Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year at a luncheon hosted by the Metro Atlanta Chamber and sponsored by MTX Group Inc., the Georgia Lottery Corporation, and more. Joining us to talk about the Early Childhood Educators of the Year is Miranda Murphy, Practice and Support Services Outreach and Project Manager; Laura Wagner is Executive Director of the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning; and our Early Childhood Educators of the Year are Gleydis Estrada, The Golden Age Family Child Care Learning Home in Lawrenceville; Kenyetta Robinson, Lifetime Youth Learning Center in Union City; and Gloria Linley, Towne Lake Academy, South Campus in Woodstock. Dawan Barfield from GEEARS serves as Gleydis’s interpreter for this podcast. Support the show
S8 · E36
June 1 · 51 min
Episode 36 - 2026 Legislative Review
Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode we are reviewing legislative developments from the 2026 Georgia General Assembly and their effects on DECAL and early childcare and education across the state. With new laws and policies shaping the future of Georgia's youngest learners, we'll unpack what these changes mean for families, providers, and the broader community. Support the show
S8 · E35
May 26 · 42 min
Episode 35 - Quality Rated Myth Busters
Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode is all about “Quality Rated Myth Busters,” where we'll bust some common misconceptions and shine a light on how Georgia’s Quality Rated system really works. If you’ve ever wondered how early care and education programs are assessed, improved, and recognized for their efforts, you’re in the right place! Support the show

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