Decidedly DECAL [July 2015]

Decidedly DECAL
Highlighting the Events That Shape Who We Are







July 2015 - In This Issue
By the Numbers Important Links July Birthdays Summer Food Service Virtual Suggestion Box Board of Early Care and Learning Commissioner's Corner DECAL Issues Safety Warning SFSP 40-Year Celebration Path2College Challenge

DECAL
By the Numbers
8 - Substantiated cases of children left unattended in child
care vans in FY2015
18 - Substantiated cases of children left unattended in
child care vans in FY2014
10 - Orders for Intended Emergency Closures in 2015 12 - Orders for Intended Emergency Closures in 2014 3,828 - Georgia's Pre-K classes funded in 2015 80 - Rising Kindergarten Summer Transition Classes 30 - Rising Pre-Kindergarten Summer Transition Classes









Commissioner's Corner
by Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs
Dear DECALers:
From Powerball and Fantasy 5 to Mega Millions and Cash 3, the Georgia Lottery has been popular since Georgia voters approved its creation in a November 1992 referendum.
Last month I had the pleasure of speaking to the 2015 Georgia Lottery Corporation Sales Conference to explain how their work contributes to the success of Georgia's Pre-K Program and thereby impacts the well-being and development of Georgia's children. Since the 1993-94 school year, the Georgia Lottery Corporation has funded Pre-K in Georgia, preparing the state's four-year-old children for Kindergarten. In 2014, the Pre-K budget was over $312 million and in 2015 over $314 million.
While the mission of the sales team is to recruit and support ticket retailers, Georgia Lottery Corporation President & CEO Debbie D. Alford wanted them to know the role they play in supporting Georgia's Pre-K Program and the important impact of high quality early childhood education on brain development. I talked about how Georgia was a pioneer when the state designated by law that lottery proceeds must be used for education, specifically a college scholarship program and a voluntary Pre-K program. I explained that Georgia's Pre-K Program consistently meets eight out of 10 national quality benchmarks, and we continually explore ways to meet the remaining two benchmarks (related to class size and staff-child ratios).
The response from the Georgia Lottery Corporation Sales Team was really gratifying. They

5,223 - Licensed child care programs in Georgia 637 - Quality Rated child care programs in Georgia
Quick Links
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July Birthdays
Best wishes go out to the following DECAL employees who celebrate birthdays this month:
1 - Jackqueline Frederick 5 - Glen Cardy 7 - Zara Handsford 8 - Allison Carwile 8 - Laura Wagner 9 - Nakilia McCray 9 - Darlene Sims 9 - Robin Stevens 9 - James White 11 - Wakisha Carswell 11 - Candace Gilbert 13 - Brandy Locchetta 13 - Jennifer Underwood 13 - Ronnae Williams 14 - Marsha Ruiz-Crosby 16 - Adrienne Hamlin

embraced being part of our mission for continuous quality improvement, strengthened alignment with Kindergarten-3rd grade, improving access, and continuing to engage stakeholders and families. I believe our discussion last month will help them relay that a lottery ticket represents more than the dream for a big payoff one day...it's also an investment in preparing our children for school...and for life. I closed with this quotation from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates: "The first five years have so much to do with how the next 80 turn out." We hear you, Bill...and are thrilled to be part of a program - and a department - that are impacting future generations of Georgians. Sincerely,


16 - Kimberly Pratt 17 - Stephine Newberry 19 - Jennie Couture 20 - Jackie Shivers 21 - Jacquice Jones 23 - Carol Hartman 23 - Bridgette Merrett 25 - Pam Stevens 28 - Christie Bearden 28 - Glenda Davis-Canteen 28 - Rhonda Gunn 30 - Dee Bolden 30 - Demetria Joyce 31 - Judy Carter 31 - Patty Malone 31 - Bentley Ponder 31 - Jacquelyn Sims
DIY Summer School Prevents "Brain Drain"
Grab your construction paper, masking tape, crayons, and play dough. For the second year in a row, DECAL is posting helpful tips for preventing summer "brain drain" to our social media pages, including Facebook and Twitter.
All children experience learning loss when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer. Experts believe most children lose about two months of grade level equivalency over summer break. Using the Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS), DECAL created "DIY Summer School" with fun activities parents and caregivers can utilize using common household items. Some examples from June included playing animal charades, creating a weather chart and discussing patterns, and writing letters of significance or drawing shapes with sidewalk chalk. Each tip is based on one of the GELDS, designed to help teachers and families better understand what children from birth to age five should know and be able to do.
For more information, watch our Facebook and Twitter pages each weekday or visit www.summerlearning.org.

Pictured (L-R) are DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs, Georgia Lottery Corporation President & CEO Debbie D. Alford, and Georgia Student Finance Commission President Tricia P. Chastain.

DECAL Priority:

Ensure Health & Safety

Governor, First Lady Urge Georgians to "Look Again"
In a news conference held June 3, Governor Nathan Deal, First Lady Sandra Deal, and DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs called for families and caregivers of children to have heightened awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. Officials hope the news conference conducted at Liberty Plaza at the State Capitol, which included a demonstration of how quickly temperatures rise in a closed vehicle, will help prevent children's heatstroke deaths this summer.

"During our state's hot summer months, there is a higher risk of serious injury or death as a result of a child being left alone inside a vehicle," said Gov. Deal. "Since 2010, eight children in Georgia have died due to vehicular heatstroke. I ask that all Georgians join me in preventing future loss of life by being aware of your surroundings and never leaving a child in a car, even for just a minute. Lives can be saved if we take the time to Look Again."

"We, as parents and grandparents, work hard to keep our children safe and out of harm's way," said Mrs. Deal. "By increasing awareness and reminding your family and friends to Look Again, together we can prevent future tragedies here in Georgia."

Commissioner Jacobs said over 370,000 children in

Georgia are cared for daily by approximately 5,300

child care providers, most of whom regularly

transport children to and from home, after school

to the child care center, and on field trips.

DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs, Governor

Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal are

"We receive calls about incidents where children

pictured at a "Look Again" news conference.

are left in vehicles from a few minutes to several hours, and we investigate each incident," Jacobs

explained. "According to our records, in FY2013, 17 children were left in vehicles by child care

providers; 18 in FY2014; and 4 in 2015. While, thankfully, we have not seen any heatstroke-related

deaths in child care centers since 2011, these dangerous close calls are completely unacceptable.

Consequently, safely transporting children will remain a focus for our agency."

State officials hope the public will help distribute a new "Look Again" video to family and friends using social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. The video has been posted to You Tube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2rkuG-uImE and to DECAL's Facebook and Twitter pages.

Let Us Hear From You!

Officials also ask the public to be their eyes and ears in the community, and if they see a child left alone in a vehicle, call 911 immediately; emergency personnel are trained to respond.

Visit the Virtual Suggestion Box Now!
The 2015 SFSP is Underway

DECAL Priority:
Increase Quality & Access
Celebrating 40 Years of the Summer Food Service Program
Georgia's First Lady Sandra Deal and Atlanta Falcons Punter Matt Bosher joined DECAL and the Georgia Food Bank Association on June 4 to kick off the 2015 Summer Food Service Program and celebrate the program's 40th year in Georgia. The event was held at the Athens Housing Authority.
On June 18, Former Atlanta Falcon Chuck Wiley and the Falcons Cheerleaders joined DECAL, Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods, and the Georgia Food Bank Association in kicking off the SFSP at the Clayton County Headquarters Library in Jonesboro.

More than 915,000 children throughout Georgia

qualify for free or reduced meals during the

school year. However, without access to meals

during the summer, some families are left

wondering how they will fill the gap. The SFSP

provides free meals to children 18 and under

during summer months and when school is not in

Former Atlanta Falcon Chuck Wiley attended the session.

SFSP kick-off event in Jonesboro.

Shown L-R in the photo at left below are Dee

Bolden, DECAL Assistant Commissioner of Federal Programs; Beegee Elder, Childhood Nutrition

Manager with Food Bank of North East Georgia, Inc; John Becker, President/CEO with the Food

Bank of North East Georgia, Inc.; First Lady Sandra Deal; and Falita Flowers, DECAL Director of

Nutrition Services. The First Lady presented DECAL with a proclamation from Governor Nathan

Deal recognizing 40 years of the SFSP. At right, DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs is shown at

a SFSP event in Clayton County.

Board of Early Care and Learning
Supporting and guiding the mission and vision of Bright from the Start:
Board of Early Care and Learning
Kay Ford, Midway First Congressional District
(Secretary)
Susan Harper, Albany Second Congressional District
(Vice Chair)
Kathy Howell, Carrollton Third Congressional District
Phil Davis, Stone Mountain

DECAL Priority:
Foster Organizational Excellence

Fourth Congressional District
Carlene Talton, Decatur Fifth Congressional District
Dawnn Henderson, Marietta Sixth Congressional District
Sherron Murphy, Lawrenceville Seventh Congressional District
Luann Purcell, Ed.D., Warner Robins Eighth Congressional District
Vacant Ninth Congressional District
Janice Gallimore, Greensboro Tenth Congressional District
Victor Morgan, Cartersville Eleventh Congressional District
(Chair)
Jerri Kropp, Statesboro Twelfth Congressional District
Judy Neal, Stockbridge Thirteenth Congressional District

Tangela Johnson, Cohutta Fourteenth Congressional District
The Faces of DECAL
DECAL faces featured in the banner of this issue are (L-R) Falita Flowers, Jae Boyd, Zara Handsford, LaKisha Robinson, Kimberly Smith, Titus Dyson and Patty Malone.

Path2College Is Giving Child Care Centers a Chance to Win VISA Cards
From teaching shapes and colors to making every "boo-boo" better, child care facilities throughout Georgia play a critical and necessary role in a child's life. Within these four walls, the building blocks of education begin for a lifelong learner to blossom and grow. While we may not realize it on a day-to-day basis, child care teachers have a lasting impression on the future minds of Georgia and instill a desire for higher education that leads them down the path towards college.
This desire will be the driving force behind the all-night study sessions and final exams that will ultimately be exchanged for a college degree. However, that desire can be hindered by the cost of a college degree. The state of Georgia, with the help of child care centers, wants to help place families on the path towards college with the Path2College 529 Plan - Georgia's official college savings plan.
To encourage families to plan for college, DECAL is excited to announce a partnership with the Path2College 529 Plan - the "We Care, Child Care" Challenge. This partnership is designed to encourage Georgia families to plan for the cost of their loved ones' college education. As a part of the challenge, child care facilities throughout Georgia will have the chance to win up to a $1,000 VISA gift card. Path2College 529 will be giving away 60 VISA gift cards ranging from $100 to $500, with one $1,000 winner.
To participate, child care centers should fill out a form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/wecare529, where they can sign up to promote college savings with a Path2College 529 Plan informational display and/or schedule a presentation on saving for college between the dates of August 1 - October 31, 2015.
Additionally, students will have a chance to win $1,529 towards a Path2College 529 account by visiting www.WeCare529.com starting August 1, 2015.