General

Pre-kindergarten Initiative in 2013-14:
Georgia’s Pre-K Program

State agency with administrative authority over pre-K:
Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning

Availability of program:
159 out of 159 counties (100%)

Are districts, counties, or towns in Georgia required to offer this pre-kindergarten initiative?
No, competitive

Hours of operation per day:
School day, 6.5 hours/day

Is there a formal partnership at the state level to provide extended day services through collaboration with other agencies and programs?
Yes, Head Start, Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS)2

Enrollment

Fall 2013, Total children:
81,453

Fall 2011, by age:
81,453 4-year-olds1

Fall 2011, by type of administering agency:
Public schools, 37,765; Nonpublic schools, 43,688

Program enrollment, Fall 2013, by operating schedule:
School day, 81,453

Eligibility

Minimum age for eligibility:
4 by September 1

Maximum age for eligibility:
5 by September 1

Kindergarten eligibility age:
5 by September 1

Does state policy allow any exceptions to the age requirement for prekindergarten or kindergarten eligibility?
Yes3

State policy on enrolling children in state pre-K when they are eligible for kindergarten:
Kindergarten age-eligible children with documented disabilities may enroll in pre-K; Kindergarten age-eligible children may enroll in pre-K at local program’s discretion; Kindergarten age-eligible children may only enroll in pre-K if they have not attended 4-year-old pre-K before3

Aside from age, how is eligibility determined for individual children for this state prekindergarten initiative?
All age-eligible children in districts offering the program, or in the entire state, may enroll

What was the state-specified income requirement during the 2013-14 program year?
No income requirement

To whom, or to what percentage of children, does the income requirement apply?

Is there a sliding payment scale based on income?
No

Is child eligibility for this state prekindergarten initiative ever reassessed after a child has been enrolled in the program?
No

Risk Factors

Risk factors besides income that can be used to determine eligibility:
Not applicable

How many of the specified risk factors must be present for eligibility?
NA

How do these risk factors relate to the income cutoff for the state pre-K program?
No income requirement

Class Sizes

Maximum class size:
4-year-olds, 224

Staff-child ratio requirement:
4-year-olds, 1 to 11

Teachers

Minimum teacher degree requirement:
BA (public and nonpublic)8

Required teacher certification, licensure, and/or endorsement:
Public and nonpublic: Elementary Grades (P-8); Special Education General Curriculum Consultative/ECE (P-5); ECE (P-5); Special Ed Preschool (3-5 endorsement (P)); Birth to Five

Education level of teachers during 2011-12 by percent:
AA, 2.6%; BA, 74.88%; MA, 18.6%; Other, 3.43%

Education level of teachers during 2011-12 totals:
AA, 100; BA, 2,879; MA, 715; Other, 1328

Teacher in-service requirement:
15 clock hours per academic year

Minimum assistant teacher degree requirement:
CDA or paraprofessional certificate (public and nonpublic)9

Assistant teacher specialized training requirement:
Public: CDA (B-5); Public and nonpublic: State Paraprofessional certification (P-8)9

Services

Meal requirement:
Lunch5

Support services for English Language Learners and families:
Bilingual non-English classes are permitted in pre-K; Monolingual non-English classes are permitted in pre-K; Professional development or coaching is provided for teachers; A systematic, written plan must be in place on how to work with English Language Learners

Support services required for all programs:
Parent involvement activities; Nutrition information; Referral for social services; Transition to K activities; Parent conferences and/or home visits; Other; support services determined locally

Regulations

Screening and referral requirements:
Required: Vision; Hearing; Height/Weight/BMI; Immunizations; Dental6

State’s early learning standards document in 2013-14.
Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards

For more information about the early learning standards in 2013-14:
www.gelds.decal.ga.gov7

Funding

Days per week the state prekindergarten initiative is funded to operate using state funds:
5 days per week

Annual operating schedule for this state-funded prekindergarten initiative:
Academic year

Actual fiscal year 2014 spending for this state prekindergarten initiative:
$305,084,448

All funding sources:
State, $305,084,449

State funding sources and amounts:
Lottery, $305,084,449

Federal funding sources and amounts:
None

Is funding for this state prekindergarten initiative determined by a school funding or state aid formula?
No

Agencies eligible to receive funding directly:
Public schools, Head Start, Private CC, Faith-based centers, Other settings: Universities and technical schools, military bases, charter schools

Agencies with which subcontracting is permitted:
None

Is there a required local match for this program?
No

Select a state program to view details.


Georgia Footnotes

  1. Five-year-olds can participate in the program if they did not previously attend a Georgia’s Pre-K Program or if specific approval is given. The exact number of 5-year-olds who are eligible for kindergarten is unknown; however eligible 5-year-olds served would be included in the enrollment total. Enrollment figures reflect filled slots as of May 2014.
  2. The CAPS program provides subsidized child care to low income families.
  3. Exceptions are permitted for children with IEPs. Exceptions to the age requirement for Pre-K are reviewed on a case by case basis. Children with disabilities, developmental delays, or significant health issues may be allowed to repeat Pre-K. In addition, all children who were five years of age on September 1, 2013, and had not attended a Georgia’s Pre-K Program as a 4-year old-could enroll. A child who was age 5 on September 1, 2013 and attended a Georgia’s Pre-K Program during the previous year may repeat Pre-K if approval is given. Programs choosing not to accept children who are age 5 must have an approved written policy.
  4. Maximum class size and teacher-to-student ratio were changed as of the 2011-2012 school year as a result of budget constraints and will continue through at least until the 2014-2015 school year.
  5. All programs are required to serve lunch, but if a program participates in the Child and Adult Food Care Program (CACFP), the program is required to also serve a snack.
  6. Blended Pre-K Program/Head Start classrooms are required to have developmental screenings as well. All Georgia’s Pre-K programs are required to ask parents if a child has received his/her developmental health screening and provide a referral and appropriate follow-up to those children who have not. Children who are eligible for Medicaid or PeachCare, Georgia’s State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), are required to have a 4-year-old screening
  7. The revised Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards were released in June 2013. Pre-K Teachers were trained during the 2013-2014 school year for full implementation in the 2014-2015 school year.
  8. Lead teachers who were approved in the 2009-2010 school year with an approved ECE Associate Degree credential will be considered approved as long as they continue employment as a Pre-K lead teacher with the same company. Many teachers have an advanced degree beyond a BA; 124 teachers have their Specialist and 8 teachers have their Doctorate.
  9. In order to get a paraprofessional certificate, the applicant must have an associate’s degree or equivalent course credits, pass an ECE exam, and background check. The certificate is issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.