Early Childhood Organizations in Georgia

  • The Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL)
    The department administers the nationally recognized Georgia’s Pre-K Program, licenses child care centers and home-based child care, administers Georgia's Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program, federal nutrition programs, and manages Quality Rated, Georgia’s community powered child care rating system. The department also houses the Head Start State Collaboration Office, distributes federal funding to enhance the quality and availability of child care, and works collaboratively with Georgia child care resource and referral agencies and organizations throughout the state to enhance early care and education.

  • Georgia Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (GACCRRA)
    For more than 20 years, child care resource and referral services (CCR&R's) have been offered in Georgia.  Supported by the Department of Early Care and Learning, Bright From the Start since 2009, CCR&R's are strategically located across the state to regionally support unregulated providers through training, technical assistance, & equipment as well as supporting services including: Inclusion, Quality Improvement, Georgia Training Approval System, and career coaching through the Quality Rated system.

  • Georgia Department of Education
    Providing answers to all your Georgia education needs.

  • Georgia Department of Health
    Information on Maternal and Child Health Programs.

  • Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Family/Children Services
    Investigates child abuse; finds foster homes for abused & neglected children; helps low income, out-of-work parents get back on their feet; assists with childcare costs for low income parents who are working or in job training; & provides numerous support services & innovative programs to help troubled families.

  • Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS)
    A network of 17 centers throughout Georgia that provide training & resources to educators and parents of students with disabilities.

  • Georgia Professional Standards Commission

    The Georgia Professional Standards Commission was created by the Georgia General Assembly on July 1, 1991, to assume full responsibility for the preparation, certification, and professional conduct of certified personnel employed in the Georgia public schools.

  • Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network

    The Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network (GSAN) is a public-private collaborative that envisions a day when all communities in Georgia have the resources to provide exceptional afterschool and summer programming. Our mission is to advance, connect, and support high quality afterschool and summer learning programs to promote the success of children and youth throughout Georgia.

  • Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS)

    To support high-quality early learning and healthy development for Georgia’s youngest children, from birth to five, by championing policies, promoting innovative and evidence-based practices, and building public will.

  • Quality Care for Children (QCC)

    Create a system that equips families and child care providers with the knowledge and resources to nurture and educate Georgia’s infants and young children.

  • Voices for Georgia’s Children

    Voices for Georgia’s Children amplifies the voices of Georgia’s children at the highest levels of government. Because they believe every child in Georgia can thrive when given the opportunity, they advance laws, policies, and actions that improve all areas of child wellbeing – particularly those furthest from opportunity.

Professional Membership Organizations

  • Georgia Association for the Education of Young Children (GAEYC)
    The mission of the GAEYC is to encourage & support healthy development in young children by working with others to increase public awareness of the importance of early childhood education & to improve the quality of programs for young children through learning opportunities for early childhood educators.

  • Professional Family Child Care Alliance of Georgia

    The Professional Family Child Care Alliance of Georgia envisions a future where family child care is central to a foundational system of high quality, affordable child care, where providers are valued as professional educators and adequately compensated.

  • Black Child Development Institute - Atlanta

    Established in 1981, Black Child Development Institute (BCDI)-Atlanta coordinates community programs and initiatives throughout the state of Georgia, supporting the six focus areas of the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI)—early care and education, literacy, family engagement, child welfare, public policy, and health and wellness. The mission is to improve and advance the quality of life for Black children and families in Georgia through education and advocacy

  • Georgia Child Care Association

    Founded in 1977, the Georgia Child Care Association (GCCA) is a non-profit membership organization serving as the voice of Georgia’s licensed child care providers within the halls of government and within the broader community of early learning professionals. We are the ONLY voice representing the unique business interests of center owners, operators, and administrators.

  • Georgia Preschool Association

    Georgia Preschool Association is a non-profit organization actively committed to promoting quality care and education for children eight years and under.

  • Georgia Head Start Association

    The Georgia Head Start Association, Inc. (GHSA) is a statewide non-profit organization with the mission to provide education, leadership and advocacy that supports Head Start programs’ efforts in delivering high quality comprehensive services to Georgia’ to enhance the capability of local Head Start programs to deliver quality comprehensive services to children and their families. GHSA represents the 31 Head Start and Early Head Start agencies in the state of Georgia that provide these services to over 25,000 low-income preschool children birth through five-years-old and their families.

  • Georgia Science Teachers Association (GSTA)
    A non-profit organization that seeks to help expand the levels of student achievement. The premiere organization for sharing best practices in science education in the state of Georgia.

  • Professional Association of Georgia Educators
    The largest professional teacher organization in the state. Fosters greater professionalism in the classroom & other areas of the teaching & learning profession.

  • Georgia Association of Educators
    A professional organization for public education professionals. Support, protect, & strengthen those who nurture Georgia’s children.