Media release from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (or DECAL):
The Georgia Foundation for Early Care + Learning and the Georgia Foundation for Public Education (GFPE) are offering $5,000 mini-grants to 15 elementary schools partnering with local child care programs to help students transition into Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Kindergarten. To receive the mini-grant, the school and the local child care program must develop a plan that shows how they will collaborate to align their early literacy practices to prepare young students for the next academic step.
To qualify for the mini-grant, the local elementary school must partner with a neighboring child care provider who has received a star rating in DECAL’s Quality Rated Program. The program supported 16 local school systems across Georgia in fiscal year 2025.
“We are proud to once again provide this grant opportunity in partnership with the Georgia Foundation for Public Education,” said Laura Wagner, Executive Director of the Georgia Foundation for Early Care + Learning. “Together, we are supporting communities of practice focused on evidence-based literacy instruction. We believe the partnerships between early childhood programs and local school systems will promote best practices in preparing young children to read.”
Grant applications will be accepted through October 31, 2025, with winners announced in late November. Winning applications must describe a professional development program focusing on early literacy that will strengthen vertical alignment in literacy instruction at the child care center and the elementary school. The goal of the mini-grants is to help ensure that rising Pre-K and Kindergarten students enter elementary school with strong foundational literacy skills.
Paige Buzbee, Executive Director of GFPE, highlighted that literacy is a top priority for the Georgia Department of Education and GFPE. She explained, “Investing in partnerships that strengthen the early childhood education to kindergarten pipeline lays the foundation for their future reading and learning skills, ensuring more students are prepared to thrive throughout their academic journey.”
The Early Literacy Alignment Mini-Grants are made possible through the generous donations to the Georgia Foundation for Early Care & Learning and to the Georgia Foundation for Public Education via the PEACH Education Tax Credit.
Applications can be found on the following link: Early Literacy Alignment Mini Grant: Round Four – Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
For more information on the Early Literacy Alignment Mini-Grants, visit www.gaearlyed.org or contact Laura Wagner at 404.823.4062 or [email protected].