E-Mail
Print
DALLAS , GA- Sen. Bill Heath (R-Bremen) Monday offered his support for the Georgia Pre-K program by attending a community event hosted by CTC: Pauling, a child care learning center in Dallas , Georgia , and the child advocacy organization Voices for Georgia ’s Children (www.georgiavoices.org). This event was a part of Georgia Pre-K Week, a statewide initiative held October 3-7 to highlight the quality of Georgia ’s Pre-K program and the importance of early education in a child’s life.
Sen. Heath visited CTC: Paulding to get a first-hand look at the many ways that Pre-K gets young children ready for school and on a path to reading proficiency by the third grade. More than one million students have passed through the doors of the Georgia Pre-K program since it started in 1993. Currently, there are 3,909 Pre-K classes serving over 86,000 children across the state. Studies have shown that children who participate in a quality Pre-K program like Georgia Pre-K have higher graduation rates, lower welfare use, and lower incarceration rates.
“My trip to CTC: Paulding today allowed me to interact and read to Georgia’s future leaders but also to highlight another reason why we must continue to focus on legislation that puts the needs of Georgia’s youngest learners first,” said Sen. Heath. “We are one of the few states to fund a universal Pre-K program because we understand the importance of investing in our leaders of tomorrow.”
“I truly believe that early education is a key to Georgia ’s future success,” said Bobby Cagle, Commissioner of Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning. “Our Department is proud to partner with hard-working Pre-K directors, teachers and staff to make sure that Georgia’s young children are getting the kind of high-quality learning experience they need and that will ensure the success of this generation and others to come.”
The Georgia Pre-K program capitalizes on the fact that 90% of a child’s brain is developed by the age of 5. By promoting early education, the Georgia Pre-K program is helping the State’s children succeed later in life.
“Georgia Pre-K Week is an exciting opportunity to showcase the hundreds of quality Pre-K centers we have in Georgia.” said Pat Willis, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children, “Our hope is that our State’s leaders carry this experience with them into the coming legislative session and make decisions that will improve the overall well being of Georgia’s children, especially those in Pre-K.”
Joining Voices for Georgia’s Children as partners on Georgia Pre-K Week are Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy (www.ferstfoundation.org <http://www.ferstfoundation.org> ) Georgia Association for Young Children (www.gayconline.org <http://www.gayconline.org> ), Georgia Child Care Association (www.georgiachildcare.org <http://www.georgiachildcare.org> ), Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (www.geears.org <http://www.geears.org> ), Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (www.gpee.org <http://www.gpee.org> ) , The Junior League of Atlanta (www.jlatlanta.org <http://www.jlatlanta.org> ), and Quality Care for Children (www.qualitycareforchildren.org <http://www.qualitycareforchildren.org> )
About Voices for Georgia ’s Children
Established in 2003, Voices for Georgia ’s Children (www.georgiavoices.org <http://www.georgiavoices.org> ) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the well-being of children and youth across the state and inspires Georgians – both legislators and everyday citizens – to act on their behalf. The organization provides the necessary research-based information, measures, collective voice and proposed legislation to help guide these decision-makers in the right direction – that is, supporting policies that ensure Georgia’s children grow up safe, healthy, educated, connected to their family and community, and employable.