Why we do it: literacy, leadership, and lasting change

90% of a child’s brain connections are developed by the time they’re five years old. That makes birth through five a critical window for families and teachers to provide rich language exposure and education to children.  

Birth through five development is one of the top concerns for early learning centers and Pre-Kindergarten programs: how do we deliver high-quality education before children start formal school? 

Addressing that question is the life’s work of Deal Center governing board member and Department of Early Care and Learning Commissioner Amy Jacobs.  

“The more we can expose young children, especially under five, to high-quality, language-rich, and responsive caregiving, the better we’re setting them up for future success,” she said.  

Commissioner Amy Jacobs.

Although Amy Jacobs’s role does not involve direct interaction with children, that hasn’t stopped her from changing their lives. As commissioner for the last 11 years, she’s supported childcare providers through programs designed to increase their quality and accessibility. 

Jacobs manages a budget of over $1 billion dollars for Georgia’s Pre-K program, subsidizing childcare, adult and childcare nutrition, early childhood education, and more.  

“I’m really fortunate to have a strong, passionate, and dedicated team that surrounds me,” Jacobs said. “I could not do it without them as we juggle priorities from the federal to local level.” 

Georgia’s Pre-K program has been around for over 30 years, and it continues to evolve under Jacobs’ oversight. She’s helped establish a quality-rated program in Georgia, which is a rating and improvement system for childcare programs to reach higher levels of quality beyond basic health and safety requirements. 

Early childcare providers demonstrating high-quality learning environments are evaluated on a three-star scale, giving families the information they need to transform early education in their communities. Under Jacobs’ leadership, the quality-rated program has grown to include roughly 3,000 childcare providers. 

Jacobs and DECAL are leveraging their resources to reduce early education class sizes, improve the quality of early learning, and provide professional development to teachers across the state.  

One of their newest additions is a workforce bonus for childcare teachers and staff. Now, early childcare teachers and staff from quality-rated providers receive a $500 annual bonus from DECAL. 

“We’re committed to improve recruitment and retention for early childcare teachers and staff in Georgia,” Jacobs said. “We’re allocating $17 million just for that purpose to show those staff members that we value what they do for children.” 

The domino effect is better education for very young children, more exposure to rich language, and improved literacy outcomes for Georgia. 

“We’re making a difference every day in the lives of childcare providers,” Jacobs said. “W All children having access to high-quality early learning has a statewide impact.” 

The Deal Center is a special funding initiative created by the Office of the Governor in 2017. The center is intended to improve reading outcomes for Georgia’s children and is housed by Georgia College & State University.