DECAL Download
Education & Explainer
About
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.
Episodes
- Episode 34 - CCS Resource Suite
Send us Fan Mail Today, we’re looking at Child Care Services and some new resources they’ve created to make compliance easier and more approachable for early childhood programs. Through a new Resource Suite, CCS has taken comprehensive gui…
- Episode 33 - NIEER State of Preschool Yearbook
Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode is dedicated to a truly historic moment: On April 22, Governor Brian Kemp announced that Georgia’s Pre-K Program has met all 10 of 10 quality benchmarks established by the National Institute for Early E…
- Episode 32 - CCS Lunch & Learn
Send us Fan Mail Our Child Care Services Division is inviting all providers to a special Lunch and Learn, happening on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at noon. They’re looking specifically at required reports…which can be confusing. Sometimes provi…
- Episode 31 - Look Again
Send us Fan Mail Each year, DECAL’s Look Again campaign serves as a crucial reminder for parents, caregivers, and educators about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. We're proud to highlight the collaborative efforts wi…
- Episode 30 - Children's Mental Health Week
Send us Fan Mail DECAL celebrates Children’s Mental Health Week in Georgia May 4th – 8th, as we have done for the last six years in the first full week of May. Similar to Georgia’s Pre-K Week, and Inclusive Early Learning Week, this specia…
- Episode 29 - Summer Transition Program
Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode, we’re talking about the Georgia’s Pre-K Summer Transition Program, a dynamic initiative that is held during June and July, offering high-quality instruction with a focus on language, literacy, and m…
- Episode 28 - Finding Summer Camps
Send us Fan Mail It's never too early to start planning a summer your children will remember! In this episode, we dive into how the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is making it easier for families to find safe, afford…
- Episode 27 - Mindy Binderman
Send us Fan Mail For nearly two decades, Mindy Binderman has been a nonprofit leader and advocate for early childhood policy here in Georgia dedicating her career to advocacy, policy development, and driving systemic change. Recently the f…
- Episode 26 - Laura Evans from GPB
Send us Fan Mail High-quality educational programming plays a critical role for children from birth to age five, as these early years are foundational for brain development, language acquisition, social-emotional growth, and the establishm…
- Episode 25 - Pre-K to College Sweepstakes + Georgia Pre-K at the Capitol
Send us Fan Mail Planning for college can start earlier than many families realize. DECAL and Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan are sponsoring the annual Path from Pre-K to College Sweepstakes, an initiative to help families begin saving for…
- Episode 24 - CACFP Week
Send us Fan Mail Across the country, from March 15th to the 21st, we are shining a spotlight on the providers, the sponsors, and the food service professionals who are quite literally stirring goodness into the lives of children and adults…
- Episode 23 - State of the Early Care and Education Workforce
Send us Fan Mail On today’s episode, we’re looking into the findings of a recent study examining the early childhood care and education workforce in Georgia. We'll explore the challenges educators face, the opportunities for professional g…
- Episode 22 - Audits & Compliance Team
Send us Fan Mail In a field where the well-being and developmental growth of our youngest children is at stake, it’s essential that standards, policies, and regulations are upheld with diligence and integrity. DECAL’s Audits and Compliance…
- Episode 21 - Hiring at DECAL
Send us Fan Mail This week we’re delving into a topic that’s both exciting and essential: hiring at DECAL. Whether you’re interested in joining our team or just curious about what it takes to work in state government --- specifically early…
- Episode 20 - DECAL Scholars
Send us Fan Mail DECAL Scholars is a transformative initiative designed to support early childhood educators on their journey to earning a degree or credential. From personalized educational counseling to scholarship assistance, DECAL Scho…
- Episode 19 - Georgia Pre-K Classroom Refurbishment Grants
This episode of DECAL Download explores the Pre-K Classroom Refurbishment Funding available for eligible classrooms in Georgia. Guests representing state operations and school systems discuss the $15,000 one-time grant designed to enhance…
- Episode 18 - Meet Monica Griffin
Send us Fan Mail Nutrition plays a crucial role in early care settings by supporting children's growth, development, and ability to learn. Establishing healthy eating habits during these formative years sets the foundation for lifelong wel…
- Episode 17 - Inclusive Early Learning Week
The DECAL Download podcast discusses the 10th anniversary of Inclusive Early Learning Week, an event in Georgia supporting children with disabilities. Guests include Katie Hagan, Veronia Thomas, Caitlyn Sanders, and Jennifer Jones.
- Episode 16 - GPEE Early Learning Panel
This episode covers highlights from the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education's Media Symposium on January 9, 2026, featuring a panel discussion on early learning. Panelists included Dr. Bentley Ponder, Kristen Bernhard, Shawnell…
- Episode 15 - Preview of the 2026 Georgia General Assembly
DECAL Download Episode 15 previews the 2026 Georgia General Assembly session, covering topics such as budget, education, healthcare, transportation, and election law. Guests include Polly McKinney, Liz Young, Rian Ringsrud, Greg Bluestein,…
- Episode 14 - Helping Mamas
This episode features Jamie Lackey, CEO of Helping Mamas, Laura Wagner from the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning, and Quandra Obi discussing the nonprofit's work distributing essential baby supplies to families.
- Episode 13 - Starting Early in Early Childhood Education
Maxwell High School of Technology offers early childhood education courses, including a Georgia’s Pre-K Program classroom. Instructor Karey McFall, former student Laurynn Martin, current students Aubrey Hoyt and Justin Davilla Mora, and Ge…
- Episode 12 - Meet the Interns
This episode of DECAL Download introduces college interns from Georgia Tech, Emory University, Clayton State University, Georgia Military College, Georgia State University, and Spelman College who worked at DECAL during the 2025 fall semes…
- Episode 11 - Chat with the Commissioner
In DECAL Download Episode 11, Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs provides updates on early childhood education in Georgia, discusses key initiatives, and answers listener questions about DECAL's work to support quality care and education.
- Episode 10 - Chop Look Listen Brunswick
This episode of DECAL Download, recorded in Brunswick, Georgia, focuses on the 'Chop, Look & Listen' campaign aimed at preventing choking in children. Guests State Rep. Dr. Rick Townsend and Deputy Commissioner Pam Stevens discuss the init…
- Episode 9 - Chop Look Listen Alpharetta
Episode 9 covers the first Chop Look Listen event held at Seven Branches Academy in Alpharetta, Georgia, a statewide initiative aimed at enhancing child safety by addressing the preventable risk of choking. The event highlighted the import…
- Episode 8 - Happy Helpings
Cindy Kicklighter and Joann Kilpatrick discuss the Happy Helpings program, a USDA-funded initiative by DECAL addressing summer food insecurity for children in Georgia.
- Episode 7 - Small Wonders
DECAL Download introduces 'Small Wonders,' a new segment in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics. This segment offers expert advice on raising young children, with pediatrician Dr. Nicola Chin joining for the first installme…
- Episode 6 - Chop Look Listen
DECAL Download episode 6 introduces the Chop, Look & Listen campaign, developed in response to child choking tragedies in Georgia. Deputy Commissioner Pam Stevens and Candice Gilbert, CCS Training and Communications Manager, discuss strate…
- Episode 5 - Meet the New Georgia's Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year
DECAL Download features Autumn Hart and Teresa Swaim, the 2025-2026 Georgia Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year. They were surprised in their classrooms and are recognized for their commitment to early childhood education.
- Episode 4 - Update on Quality Rated Workforce Bonuses
DECAL Download Episode 4 features Rachel Lee, Assistant Director of Quality Assurance and Business Operations, providing an update on the Quality Rated Workforce Bonuses. This annual $500 bonus is funded by DECAL to recognize child care ed…
- Episode 3 - Open Enrollment
DECAL Download Episode 3 discusses the Open Enrollment period for health benefits, running from October 20 to November 8. Senior Manager of Human Resources, Sabrina Henry, joins to explain the process for staff to review, select, or update…
- Episode 2 - Every Amazing Story
In episode 2 of DECAL Download, guitarist Coy Bowles and former NFL player Malcolm Mitchell discuss their new book, Every Amazing Story, which encourages children to find their voice and tell their stories.
- Episode 1 - Georgia Pre-K Week
This episode of DECAL Download focuses on the 15th annual Georgia's Pre-K Week, celebrated October 6-10, 2025. Guests Judy Fitzgerald, Joshua England, and Devon Porter from Voices for Georgia's Children discuss the event and its support fo…
- Episode 50 - Early Literacy Alignment Mini-Grants
DECAL Download interviews Laura Wagner and Paige Buzbee about new Early Literacy Alignment Mini-Grants. These grants offer up to $5,000 to connect public elementary schools and child care programs for literacy initiatives.
- Episode 49 - Criminal Background Checks
DECAL Download episode 49 discusses criminal background checks in Georgia, focusing on their importance for early care environments. Guests Ira Sudman and Greg Brown, DECAL General Counsel and Legal Services Officer respectively, provide d…
- Episode 48 - Quality Rated Family Support Call Center
DECAL has launched the Quality Rated Family Support Call Center, reachable at 877-ALL-GA KIDS. Sonja Steptoe, Katrina Bernard, and Anna Buchmann provide details on this new community support resource.
- Episode 47 - Georgia's 2Gen Academy
The DECAL Download podcast features guests discussing the graduation of the third cohort of Georgia's 2Gen Academy. Speakers include Quandra Obi, Bridget Ratajczak, Amanda Tarpley, and Jill Taylor.
- Episode 46 - Preparing for Your CCS Inspection
This episode of DECAL Download focuses on preparing for child care inspections. Guests Kaycee Purvis, Rebekah Mullinax, and Kajora McCoy discuss what providers need to know before, during, and after inspection day.
- Episode 45 - New DECAL Homepage
DECAL Download episode 45 discusses the updated DECAL Homepage at decal.ga.gov, focusing on its intuitive design and the new Ask CALI chatbot. Dermaine Smith, Aparna Sikha, Robin Reid, and Barbara Sanders provide details on the enhancement…
- Episode 44 - Prepping for Pre-K
Georgia Pre-K Program Specialists Alice Lasseter, Rokeya Stone, and Perri Walden, along with Meghan McNail and Devon Porter, discuss preparations for Georgia’s Pre-K Program.
- Episode 43 - Community Impact Grants
DECAL has awarded Community Impact Grants to address opportunity gaps for children aged 0-8 and their families. The grants encourage collaboration between non-profits, school systems, and government entities. Guests include Jill Taylor, Ta…
- Episode 42 - Prevent Child Abuse Georgia Rebrand
DECAL Download features Jennifer Stein, Executive Director of the newly rebranded Positive Childhood Alliance Georgia (formerly Prevent Child Abuse Georgia). The discussion covers the inspiration behind the name change and the organization…
- Episode 41 - Adaptive Learning Mini-Grants
DECAL Download Episode 41 discusses the Adaptive Learning Mini-Grant Opportunity, an initiative focused on creating inclusive learning environments. Guests include grant recipients Abby Brooke and Shaheen Ehani, alongside Peggy Sutton, Jen…
- Episode 40 - We Care Child Care Sweepstakes
This episode discusses the We Care, Child Care Sweepstakes, a collaboration between DECAL and Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan. Bethany Whetzel, Treasury Program Director for the Georgia Office of the State Treasurer, joins to explain the i…
- Episode 39 - Taste of DECAL: Best Places to Eat in Georgia
DECAL Download Episode 39 features Brittany Marks, Clayton Adams, Kimberly Stoy, and Ira Sudman discussing their favorite places to eat throughout Georgia, gathered from their extensive travels for child care program visits and community e…
- Episode 38 - New Officers for Board of Early Care and Learning
At their May 15 quarterly meeting, the Board of Early Care and Learning elected new officers. Kristy Beam will serve as Chair, Kristin Morrisey as Vice Chair, and Cristina Washell as Secretary.
- Episode 37 - CAPS Advisory Councils
DECAL Download discusses the new CAPS Advisory Councils, one for parents and one for providers. These councils will provide feedback to improve the Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program. The episode features Elisabetta Kasfir, Amy R…
- Episode 36 - Internships at DECAL
This episode of DECAL Download discusses internships at the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. Guests Gabrielle Meeks, Njambi Karobia, Mark Dock, and Trey Freeman share insights on the intern experience and opportunities.
- Episode 35 - Evaluating COVID Funding for Georgia
DECAL Download Episode 35 examines the impact of over $2 billion in federal relief funds allocated to Georgia between 2020-2023. The discussion includes insights from DECAL officials and Child Trends researchers regarding initiatives for c…