Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 591 - RULES OF BRIGHT FROM THE START GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CARE AND LEARNING
Chapter 591-2
Subject 591-2-1 - GRANT DESCRIPTIONS
Rule 591-2-1-.01 - Georgia's Pre-K Program

(1) General Scope and Purpose: This program is designed to provide grant funding to license or government childcare centers, local school systems, and Head Start organizations. Providers are to conduct a full day (6 1/2 hours of instructional services), 180 days per year of appropriate educational/instructional services for four-year-old children and eligible five year old children (five year old children who did not previously participate in Georgia's Pre-K Program).

(2) Georgia's Pre-K Program will also offer a Summer Transition Programs. These programs operate a full day (6 1/2 hours of instructional services), five days a week for 6 weeks and provides appropriate educational/instructional services for all eligible children. Eligible children are those who meet Childcare and Parent Service minimum qualifications, who are age eligible. Rising Pre-K STP eligibility is for dual language learners age eligible for Pre-K services. Rising kindergarten STP is for students who did not attend a Georgia's Pre-K program or who attended a Pre-K Program but need additional instruction to prepare them for Kindergarten and are age eligible for kindergarten.

(3) General Terms and Conditions: Contract recipients agree to use the awarded funds to provide a developmentally appropriate educational program for the children. The funds may be used to provide salaries and benefits for lead teachers, assistant teachers, and limited support staff; materials and equipment to support an appropriate early education program; Category 1 eligible child transportation costs; staff travel to required training; and the purchase of other materials and services necessary to implement the program. Providers may also be granted funds to coordinate comprehensive services for the family. These same conditions apply to the Georgia's Pre-K Summer Transition Program.

(4) Eligible Recipients: Any legal educational or licensed childcare entity, such as a local school system, a public or private not-for-profit [501c(3)] agency, or a private for-profit agency. Each private site must have a room with licensed space for a minimum of 22 children.

(5) Application Process: If funding is available, applications are available during an annual application period and can be downloaded from the agency website (www.decal.ga.gov). Interested entities must complete a detailed application, which includes vendor TIN verification, licensing information, description of the program curriculum choice, and assurances. A competitive application process is made available for the Georgia's Pre-K Program. Programs must demonstrate need by providing data about unserved children.

(6) Approximate time to apply: If funding is available, the application period for Georgia's Pre-K Program generally runs from February through April, for the following school year. If funding is available, the application for the Summer Transition Program is generally available January through April, for the program beginning in June. The exact due date is published each year in the Application Information Package.

(7) Criteria for Grant Award: Grant Agreements are awarded to Georgia's Pre-K and Summer Transition Program providers through a competitive process, subject to funding availability, previous program compliance (for continuation programs), and identified regional population needs. DECAL shall contract with both public and private providers for Pre-K services. Licensed applicants must have a history of compliance with regulations.

(8) Calculation of Payment: For Georgia's Pre-K Program, each Pre-K provider must submit detailed class rosters four times during the school year, which include teacher's name, Social Security Number and teaching credential information. The roster also includes all Pre-K students' names, Social Security Numbers, gender, race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, English language proficiency and dates of birth. The enrollment and teacher credentials reported are applied to the Pre-K rate model to determine the amount of the monthly Pre-K payment. Payments for the Summer Transition Programs must submit attendance reports during the six week program detailing program attendance in the program. Additional documentation may also be collected outlined by the Child and Parent Service Program requirements including parent education/ work participation and parent education attendance participation. The teacher credentials and CAPS attendance reported are applied to the Summer Transition Program rate models to determine the amount of bi-weekly payments.

(9) Length of Award: For Pre-K grants, awards are valid for one school year only, and are in effect from July 1 through June 30. For Summer Transition Programs, awards are valid from mid- May to mid/ late August depending on the program calendar.

(10) Authority: O.C.G.A. 20-1A-1; 20-1A-4; 50-27-2; 50-27-3.