Decidedly DECAL [Sept. 2016]

DECAL September 2016

Decidedly DECAL
Highlighting the Events That Shape Who We Are

















September 2016 - In This Issue By the Numbers Important Links Decidedly DECAL CALi Quiz Winner September Birthdays A Day in the Life of... Wellness Committee Providing Healthy Snacks Introducing PEACH Virtual Suggestion Box Board of Early Care and Learning Commissioner's Corner Georgia's Talk With Me Baby Initiative Teachers of the Year to be Named this Month DECAL and Zoo Atlanta Host Educator Appreciation Day Inclusive Early Learning Week is Sept. 18 - 24 Clarification on Cut-Off Birthday for Kindergarten Lactation Room Available
DECAL
By the Numbers
4,989 - Licensed child care programs in Georgia 187 - Pending applications for licensed child care programs
in Georgia
3,875 - Funded Georgia's Pre-K Program classrooms 63,018,831 - Meals served during FY16 by Child and
Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

Commissioner's Corner
by Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs
Dear DECAL Staff,
One of my favorite quotations is by a man named William Pollard, who, interestingly enough, was a physicist and a theologian. He said, "Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow."
In my experience as your commissioner, I believe it is safe to say that DECAL does not operate with the "arrogance of success." Without question, we have been...and are...successful at developing, implementing, operating innovative programs, initiatives, grants, etc. to enhance the well-being of Georgia's children and families. BUT, I also see us continually working to learn from what we do, so we can do it even better, more efficiently, more effectively.
Georgia began piloting Pre-K in 1992. I dare say that Georgia's Pre-K Program 2016-2017 looks very little like the program initiated by the Georgia Department of Education in the early 1990s for 750 "at risk" students. That's because every year, those responsible for Georgia's Pre-K Program then...and we now...haven't been afraid to honestly scrutinize our work and ask, "How can we improve what we're doing?"
The roots of DECAL stretch back to 1996 when Governor Zell Miller and the Georgia General Assembly created the Office of School Readiness (OSR) to administer the lottery funded Pre-K program. At that time OSR administered Pre-K, licensed only the private child care centers that offered Pre-K, and administered the CACFP. Telephone numbers for the entire staff fit on one side of one page.

DECAL September 2016
1,150 - Quality Rated child care programs in Georgia 2,738 - Child care programs participating in Quality Rated 7,196 - LIKES for DECAL Facebook Page 1,920 - FOLLOWERS on DECAL Twitter
Quick Links
DECAL on Facebook DECAL on Twitter DECAL on Instagram DECAL on Pinterest DECAL Website
Decidedly DECAL CALi Quiz Winner
Georgia's Pre-K Program Assessment Analyst Susan Breheny was the winner of our first Decidedly DECAL CALi Quiz. She won a pair of tickets to Zoo Atlanta. Susan's name was drawn from all employees who took the online quiz and scored 100. Read this issue of Decidedly DECAL and watch for the next quiz and your chance to win some fun prizes donated by local businesses!
September

Today the department looks very little like the office created in 1996. That's because through the past 20 years OSR's/DECAL's leaders and Georgia's executive and legislative leaders haven't fallen prey to the "arrogance of success." We've studied national research; we've solicited feedback from families, from early care and education providers, from early childhood advocates and experts; we've collaborated with stakeholders; we've commissioned studies and evaluations of our work. And we've used all that we've learned to make informed decisions to improve what we do and how we do it.
Thank you for your patience, your flexibility, and your willingness to acknowledge that what we did yesterday for Georgia's children and families may not be sufficient for tomorrow's children and families. Those are the qualities that will keep us relevant, on the cutting edge, and effective in serving the next generations of Georgia's youngest citizens.
Gratefully,
GUEST COLUMN:
Closing the Word Gap: Georgia's Talk With Me Baby Initiative
by Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., Commissioner and State Health Officer Georgia Department of Public Health
We all know that growing babies need food to sustain them and help them grow healthy and strong. Just as food nourishes a growing child's body, language interactions nourish a child's brain. That's language nutrition.
The best predictor of a baby's future academic achievements is the number of words spoken to the baby and the amount of time spent in active engagement from birth to three years of age.
Children from low-income families hear approximately 600 words every hour, whereas children from higher-income families hear 2,000 words an hour. Over the course of three years, it adds up to a 30 million word gap between low-income children and children from higher-income families. This 30 million word gap contributes to critical disparities in academic performance and is influenced by a generational lack of access to education and language nutrition.
According to a study done by University of Kansas researchers Betty Hart and Todd Risley, both quantity and quality of language are essential for vocabulary development, which is a predictor of third grade reading proficiency. Up to third grade, children learn to read. After third grade, children read to learn. Children who cannot read by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. In Georgia, two-thirds of our children are not achieving third grade reading proficiency.

DECAL September 2016
Birthdays
Best wishes go out to the following DECAL employees who celebrate birthdays this month: 1 - Richard Bartlett 2 - Cassa Andrews 4 - Emily Smith 5 - Tanya Astin 5 - Peggy Kosater 6 - Dana Bond 7 - Roslyn Williams 8 - Laura Davis 8 - Angelita Ramanou 8 - Tiffany Whigham 13 - Jill West 14 - Sonia Ladd 14 - Jeannie Lippy 14 - Donna Marks 17 - Amy Hill 17 - Shenetta McNair 19 - John Gardner 20 - Quatavius Copeland 21 - Micca Burris 22 - Glecia Carter 22 - Takisha Golden 22 - April Rogers 24 - Luetricia Billingsley 26 - Krystal McCants 26 - Barbara Sanders 27 - George Dagenhart 27 - Sherry Smith 30 -Rhianna Clark
Day in the Life of
Sylvia Boykin
It's been said that the only way to do great work is to love what you do. Such is the case for Sylvia Boykin, whose passion and job responsibilities are perfectly aligned.
"I really love what I do and have come to realize that training is my passion," said Boykin, Nutrition Training Coordinator for DECAL.

Guided collectively by a team of leaders from the Georgia Department of Public Health, the Georgia Department of Education, Emory University's School of Nursing and Department of Pediatrics, the Marcus Autism Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, the Atlanta Speech School's Rollins Center for Language and Literacy, and Get Georgia Reading - the state's campaign for grade level reading - Georgia's Talk With Me Baby (TWMB) is dedicated to making sure every child born in Georgia receives essential language nutrition as a strong foundation for cognitive ability, socialemotional competency, school readiness, third grade reading proficiency and high school graduation, and ultimately lifelong success.
The good news is that the 30 million word gap can be bridged. TWMB helps build that bridge by introducing language nutrition in early childhood settings by training staff in health care, public health and WIC clinics, and early learning centers. Staff can then transfer that knowledge to parents and caregivers, teaching them about the importance of early language exposure and talking to their babies.
For more information about language nutrition and TWMB, visit talkwithmebaby.org.
Teachers of the Year to be Named this Month
For the first time in its 24-year history, Georgia's Pre-K Program has a Teacher of the Year recognition program and will announce winners from a public school and private school on September 27. In August, Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs and Naserian Foundation CEO Stephanie Blank visited five finalists. The sixth finalist visit was scheduled for today. Blank's foundation is sponsoring the statewide recognition.
The finalists are Connie Ellington of Bethlehem Elementary School in Bethlehem/Barrow County; Stacy Tidwell of Duncan Creek Academy in Dacula/Gwinnett County; Tonya Freeman of Green Acres Preschool in Douglasville/Douglas County; Kelly Harris of Crescent Elementary School in Griffin/Spalding County; Rondrikus Fletcher of Lamar County Primary School in Barnesville/Lamar County; and Channie Frazier of Kids World in Statesboro/Bulloch County.
"Now in its 24th year, Georgia's Pre-K Program is nationally recognized as an exemplary early childhood education program for four year olds that significantly impacts school readiness skills in language, literacy, and math," said Commissioner Jacobs. "The program's success can be attributed directly to the outstanding Pre-K teachers and assistants who implement this program daily. This is a small way for us to recognize their efforts."

DECAL September 2016

Her primary responsibilities include designing, developing, and facilitating training related to program compliance and requirements for both the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program.
Her favorite part of her job is providing technical assistance to program participants and internal staff.
"I love 'aha' learning moments," said Boykin, a DECAL employee for two years.
If appointed DECAL Commissioner for a day, Boykin said she would host an "Employee Swap Day."
"This would allow employees to work in another unit to gain a big picture view of the agency and how various areas function," she said.
Outside of work, Boykin volunteers time to various community service projects, serves as a mentor and enjoys consignment shopping.
Her favorite quote is by Eldridge Cleaver: "You either have to be part of the solution, or you're going to be part of the problem."
Wellness Committee Brings Healthy Snacks to You
You know the feeling. It hits you around midafternoon when you need a snack for a quick pick-meup. Thanks to DECAL's Wellness Committee, a selection of healthy and nutritious snacks -- all free from any partially hydrogenated oils -- is always within reach for

Pictured above are Teachers of the Year Finalists (clockwise starting at top left) Kelly Harris, Rondrikus Fletcher, Connie Ellington, Channie Frazier, and Stacy Tidwell. Finalist not pictured is Tonya Freeman, who will be visited today by DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs and Naserian Foundation CEO Stephanie Blank.
DECAL and Zoo Atlanta Host Educator Appreciation Day
DECAL is partnering again this year with Zoo Atlanta to host Educator Appreciation Day on Saturday, September 17, 2016 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Early care and education professionals throughout the state, including DECAL employees, are encouraged to bring their guests to the zoo for a day of fun-filled activities. Educator Appreciation Day is presented by PNC Bank and sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and Macy's.
Educators will receive free admission and $2 off general admission for each of their guests. Educator identification, such as an employee photo ID; a pay stub or name badge with school name or county and a state-issued photo ID; or a homeschool declaration of intent and a state-issued photo ID is required. Educators are encouraged to pre-register to attend at http://shop.zooatlanta.org/webstore/shop/ViewItems.aspx?&CG=105&C=55.

DECAL September 2016

employees working at or

visiting the Twin Towers.

Don't even think about

going downstairs.

Training Coordinator Gary Amos and

For four years now, the Wellness Committee has

Business Analyst Barbara Sanders of the DECAL Wellness Committee

offered a wide variety of healthy snacks in baskets

conveniently placed in breakrooms on the sixth and seventh

floors, and the Nutrition area on the eighth floor.

Employees can find everything from veggie chips and trail mix to fresh fruit and granola bars, and every item is priced at 50 cents. All items are 200 calories or less...250 calories for nuts and trail mix. You won't find candy bars, pastries, or anything fried in these baskets.

DECAL Business Analyst Barbara Sanders, who chairs the Wellness Committee, says the baskets have been popular. "We have been told the snacks come in handy when you need something to tide you over until dinner at home," said Sanders. "We're glad DECAL employees are taking advantage of the wellness snacks and making healthy choices when snacking."

Members of her committee keep an eye peeled for great deals while shopping at Publix, Kroger, Trader Joe's and Costco. They are reimbursed for their purchases and any profits help support wellness activities for the agency.

Sanders says recent additions have included fresh peaches and apples, boiled eggs, and honey sticks from a local farmer's market. The free office delivery service Nature's Garden Express will soon be adding organic fruits and vegetables.

"We follow nutritional guidelines in managing our healthy snacks and stay within a reasonable cost," Sanders explained.

"Educator Appreciation Day provides a great opportunity for educators and their guests from across the state to experience Zoo Atlanta," said DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs. "In addition to enjoying one of Georgia's most interesting and extensive nature resources, educators can access the Educator Lounge at the Ford Tent to personally encounter exotic animals and to talk with the Zoo's education staff." In addition, guests will receive a coupon for 10 percent off purchases in the gift shop and food outlets (coupon valid on September 17 only). For more information on Zoo Atlanta's Educator Appreciation Day, call 404-624-5822 or e-mail education@zooatlanta.org.
Inclusive Early Learning Week is September 19-24
DECAL has announced that Inclusive Early Learning Week will be celebrated September 19-24, 2016. The week includes increasing community awareness of and advocacy for inclusion, celebrating

DECAL September 2016
And most importantly, the snacks never contain any partially hydrogenated oils.
Introducing PEACH!
Visit PEACH Now! Let Us Hear From You!

the successes of child care programs, and strengthening supports that promote inclusive practices in all early learning environments across Georgia.

"Georgia is leading the nation in our work on behalf of young children with disabilities and their families," said DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs. "This is an exciting week where we engage providers in advocacy, celebration, information, and reflection in our continued partnership to strengthen the supports needed to ensure that all of Georgia's children can benefit from high quality learning experiences."

As part of the celebration, Commissioner Jacobs and DECAL's official mascot, CALi, will visit Quality Rated child care programs in Georgia that have earned the QR Inclusion Endorsement. Visits will take place on Monday, September 19, 2016, at 10:00 AM at Central Georgia Technical College Child Development Center in Warner Robins; Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at 9:30AM at AppletreeABC Preschool in Alpharetta; and Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 9:30 AM at D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Early Learning Center in Lawrenceville, and 11:30 AM at Lifespan Montessori in Athens.

During each visit, Commissioner Jacobs will read "CALi is a Super Friend," a social story that describes ways children can be a Super Friend to one another.

Inclusive Early Learning Week concludes Friday and Saturday, September 23-24, 2016 at the annual conference of the Georgia Association on Young Children (GAYC) being held at Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville. Providers will be invited to take the "Person First" Pledge, have a photo taken with CALi in the photo booth, and attend several sessions on inclusion and a featured session with Special Guest Speaker Stacey Ramirez, Georgia Executive Director for The Arc, the largest national organization of and for people with intellectual and related developmental disabilities and their families.

DECAL Inclusion Specialists Michelle Clark (L) and Lindsey Urry making plans for Inclusive Early Learning Week.

In addition, during Inclusive Early Learning Week, all Georgia child care programs will receive an electronic Provider Celebration Kit linked to the Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS) that provides examples of ways providers can engage children, staff, and families throughout the week. The kit will be emailed to child care providers and posted at www.decal.ga.gov.

Clarification on Cut-Off Birthday for Kindergarten
House Bill 100 (HB 100), originally introduced in the 2015 session of the Georgia General Assembly, proposed to adjust the age requirements (cut-off birthdate) for enrolling in kindergarten. Adjusting the cut-off birthdate for kindergarten would have affected the cut-off birthdate for Georgia's Pre-K Program. HB 100 was NOT passed by the General Assembly in 2015.
During the 2016 session, another bill titled HB 100 (that had nothing to do with Kindergarten entry

DECAL September 2016

dates) was proposed. The General Assembly passed that version of HB 100.
While HB 100 has ultimately become law, it was not the version of the bill that affected Kindergarten (or Pre-K) entry dates. Consequently, the cut-off birthdate for Kindergarten (and Pre-K) remains September 1.

Visit the Virtual Suggestion Box Now!
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 Fourth Congressional District
Carlene Talton, Decatur Fifth Congressional District

Lactation Room Assists New Moms Returning to Work
To assist our DECAL nursing mothers transition back to the workforce, we offer a convenient benefit at the Twin Towers office site -- a new lactation room. Renovated specifically for this purpose, the room is designed to provide a relaxing atmosphere for our valued employees and is situated close to a breakroom.
Lisa Rambhajan, DECAL Facilities Coordinator, said the lactation room is available to any nursing mother working on-site in the Atlanta office and field-based personnel who may be attending meetings at the Twin Towers location. This special room is located on the eighth floor of the East Tower between the Cypress and Willow conference rooms and is equipped with a rocking chair and electrical outlets.
Employees will need a key to access the room and are asked to change the signage on the door before and after each use. To gain entry and reserve a specific time to use the room, send an email to workrequest@decal.ga.gov. The door should be locked and the key returned. To enhance the comfort, appeal, and suitability of the lactation room for our moms, Rambhajan asks employees to consider donating tissues, hand sanitizer, and discarded magazines from home.
For more information on DECAL's lactation room, contact Rambhajan via e-mail at Lisa.Rambhajan@decal.ga.gov or by phone at 404-463-0277.
The Faces of DECAL
DECAL faces featured in the banner of this issue are (L-R) Ashely Dorsey, Dana Bond, Susan Simpson, Christi Moore, Mark Dock, Stanley Cooper, and Kimberly Mitchell.

DECAL September 2016

Dawnn Henderson, Marietta Sixth Congressional District
Vacant Seventh Congressional District
Luann Purcell, Ed.D., Warner Robins Eighth Congressional District
Sheri Hooper, Gainesville Ninth Congressional District
Janice Gallimore, Greensboro Tenth Congressional District
Victor Morgan, Cartersville Eleventh Congressional District
(Chair)
Jerri Kropp, Statesboro Twelfth Congressional District
Vacant Thirteenth Congressional District

Tangela Johnson, Cohutta Fourteenth Congressional District