Click Here to register for 2013 Pre-K Week

We are pleased to share the results of the second Georgia Pre-K Week, held October 1-5, 2012.   With 139 State Leader visits, 450 Pre- K centers registered and widespread media coverage across the state, Pre-K Week 2012 successfully called attention to the tremendous role that Georgia’s Pre-K program plays in preparing children for success in school.  

Building on the success of our first Georgia Pre-K Week in 2011, we achieved three significant new benchmarks in 2012.  First, among the current elected state representatives to the Georgia General Assembly, 68% (161 members) have participated in the programmed activities of a Pre-K classroom in their home districts.  Second, participation by 12 partner organizations ensured that most legislators also were joined by an influential community leader who supports quality early education.  And third, through additional outreach to all Georgia Pre-K providers we confirmed that 300 centers in 97 counties independently invited local community leaders including mayors, school board members, and fire fighters to visit their educational programs. 

Other important outcomes of Georgia Pre-K Week include:

Key Leader Visits:

• Governor Nathan Deal visited a Pre-K Class in Sandy Spring, then shortly after announced that he would propose adding 10 days back to the school year. He also circulated an op-ed on the importance of early learning which was published by the Savannah News.
• First Lady Sandra Deal visited 6 Pre-K programs.
• Other key leaders visiting Pre-K Centers included Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, State School Superintendent John Barge, DECAL Commissioner Bobby Cagle, DCH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, DHS Commissioner Clyde Reese, Katie Jo Ballard, Director of Governor’s Office for Children and Families, Congressman John Barrow, Congressman Rob Woodall, and the legislative aide to Congressman Lynn Westmoreland.

Statewide Coverage:

• Visits by 38 Senators (representing 68% of the Senate) to Pre-K classrooms in their districts.  (Up from 31 Senators participating last year).    14 of the Senators were new Pre-K Week participants.
• Visits by 90 Representatives (representing 50% of the House) to Pre-K classrooms in their districts. (Up from 77 Representatives last year)  37 were first time Pre- K Week participants.
• During the two years of Georgia Pre-K Week, 161 different state legislators and senators visited a Pre-K classroom, 68% of the entire current General Assembly.
• Over 300 additional Centers, outside of those being visited by legislators, registered with us for Georgia Pre-K Week.  They received signage and online resources to host their own Pre-K Week celebrations.
• Pre-K classrooms in 97 counties participated.

 Valuable Partners:

• With the assistance of our 12 partners, we were able to align partner attendees to accompany the legislators on nearly half of the visits across the state.   Our partners included:  Ferst Foundation, GEEARS, Georgia Association on Young Children, Georgia Childcare Association, Georgia Family Connection Partnership, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, Georgia Public Library Service, JumpStart, Junior Leagues of Georgia, Metro Atlanta United Way, Quality Care For Children, YMCA
• Media coverage in 58 print, broadcast and on-line media pieces covering the state, including an op ed by Governor Deal in the Savannah paper and an op ed by Voices Chair, John Harbin, in the AJC Education Blog.