ATLANTA, Ga., (May 28, 2008) – New Pre-K classes have been awarded by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning to local schools and child care learning centers. Georgia’s Pre-K Program will benefit 79,000 of Georgia’s four-year-olds during the 2008-09 school year.

“It’s a great day for our children,” said Dr. Holly A. Robinson, Commissioner of Bright from the Start. “Georgia’s Pre-K Program will serve 1,000 additional students in 3,900 classrooms throughout the state. Those children will leave Pre-K ready for school and with a strong foundation for success in life.”

Bright from the Start has enhanced its website, www.decal.state.ga.us, so parents can easily locate all new and existing Pre-K sites in their area. Search results will now indicate the number of slots each site has been awarded. The website will also show newly funded sites which will help providers and parents fill slots quickly.

“Our goal is to fill every slot that is available state-wide. This enhanced website will help make the search process quicker and easier for parents,” said Mary Mazarky, assistant commissioner for Pre-K.

Georgia’s Pre-K Program was established in 1993 to provide the state’s four-year-old children with high quality preschool experiences. This unique program is funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education. The goal of every Georgia’s Pre-K classroom is to provide our four year olds with the learning experiences they need for success not only in kindergarten but throughout life. For more information about Georgia’s Pre-K Program, call 1-888-4GA-PREK or 404-656-5957 and ask to speak with the Pre-K consultant of the day or visit www.decal.state.ga.us.

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Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia’s children and their families. It administers the nationally recognized Georgia’s Pre-K Program, licenses child care centers and home-based child care, administers federal nutrition programs, and manages the voluntary quality enhancement programs.

The department also houses the Head Start 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. For more information, go to www.decal.state.ga.us.