Media release from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning:
Voices for Georgia’s Children and the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) are proud to announce that the 14th annual Georgia Pre-K Week takes place from October 7 to 11, 2024. This event celebrates quality early learning and highlights the importance of early childhood education across the state.
Launched in 1992 as a pilot program with just 750 students, the Georgia Pre-K Program has become a nationally recognized model, laying a solid foundation for academic excellence and future success for more than two million children statewide. This year’s Georgia Pre-K Week continues the tradition of inviting state and local leaders to engage with Pre-K classrooms across Georgia.
“Quality early learning lays the foundation for lifelong success – nurturing curiosity, fostering resilience, and empowering children to reach their fullest potential,” said Judy Fitzgerald, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children. “We understand the crucial role that early education plays in a student’s success. Children who experience quality early learning environments are more prepared for kindergarten, and this early start helps set them on a positive path for the future.”
Research shows children enrolled in the Georgia Pre-K Program make significant growth across all learning domains, including math, language and literacy, and social-emotional skills. Those gains happened for all students, regardless of gender or income differences. Those gains were shown to be sustained through the end of kindergarten, with another period of higher-than-expected gains occurring in 4th grade.
“Georgia Pre-K has consistently garnered bipartisan support and advocacy from governors, state, and local leaders,” said DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs. “This annual event offers a valuable opportunity for advocates to witness firsthand that their commitment to the program yields significant benefits.”
She added, “We’re excited for this year’s participants to explore A Magnificent Field Trip to the Governor’s Mansion, written by former Georgia football player and literacy advocate, Malcolm Mitchell, with the state’s youngest learners.”
Georgia Power returns as a premier sponsor of Georgia Pre-K Week, continuing a decade-long tradition of supporting early education. Georgia Pre-K Week 2024 is supported by Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, state commissioners, state and local elected officials, and other longstanding community partners across the state.
For more information about Georgia Pre-K Week, please visit www.gaprekweek.com.
