ATLANTA – State Representative Amy Carter (R-Valdosta) joined government leaders from across the state this week in offering her support for the Georgia Pre-K program. As part of “Georgia Pre-K Week,” held October 3-7, Rep. Carter visited Hahira Elementary School on Monday and Children’s Friend on Tuesday, where she read to pre-kindergarten students and saw first-hand the learning that happens each day thanks to Georgia’s Pre-K Program. She will also read to Pre-K students at Dewar Elementary School on Thursday.
“I support our Pre-K program because it is the best long-term investment we can make in Georgia’s economic future, and, because it is the lottery-funded, it does not place a tax burden on Georgians,” said Rep. Carter. “Education is the key to bringing jobs to Georgia and growing our economy. Businesses want an educated work force, and they want their employees to rest assured that their children will receive a quality education. This means putting the very youngest Georgians on the right footing by giving them a strong educational experience in the earliest years.”
Rep. Carter is visiting Dewar Elementary, Hahira Elementary School and Children’s Friend, a private Pre-K provider, this week to get a first-hand look at the many ways Pre-K gets young children ready for school and on a path to reading proficiency by the third grade. This mission is vitally important, because research shows that students who cannot read at grade level by third grade are at greater risk of dropping out of high school.
“My visit to these Pre-K classes provided a great opportunity to see the high-quality education we’re providing to Georgia’s young children. Pre-K is not daycare; it is a valuable part of our education system that places children on the path to succeed in elementary, middle, and high school. I am proud of Georgia for investing in our children so that we can all build a stronger tomorrow for our state,” said Rep. Carter.
The Georgia Pre-K program capitalizes on the fact that 90 percent of a child’s brain is developed by the age of five. By promoting early education, the Georgia Pre-K program is helping children succeed later in life.
“I truly believe that early education is a key to Georgia’s future success,” said Bobby Cagle, Commissioner of Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning. “Our Department is proud to partner with hard-working Pre-K directors, teachers and staff to make sure that Georgia’s young children are getting the kind of high-quality learning experience they need and that will ensure the success of this generation and others to come.”
More than one million students have passed through the doors of the Georgia Pre-K program since it started in 1993. Currently, there are 3,909 Pre-K classes serving over 86,000 children across the state. Studies have shown that children who participate in a quality Pre-K program, like Georgia Pre-K, have higher graduation rates, lower welfare use, and lower incarceration rates.
“Georgia Pre-K Week is an exciting opportunity to showcase the hundreds of quality Pre-K centers we have in Georgia,” said Pat Willis, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children. “Our hope is that our State’s leaders carry this experience with them into the coming legislative session and make decisions that will improve the overall well-being of Georgia’s children, especially those in Pre-K.”
To help bring further attention to the importance of Georgia Pre-K, “Pete the Cat” is serving as the honorary mascot for Georgia Pre-K Week. “Pete the Cat” (www.petethecat.com) is the creation of Georgia artist James Dean who illustrated the book, Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, which was written by Georgia children’s author Eric Litwin.
Georgia Pre-K Week is sponsored by Voices for Georgia’s Children and several of its partner organizations, including Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy (www.ferstfoundation.org), Georgia Association for Young Children (www.gayconline.org), Georgia Child Care Association (www.georgiachildcare.org), Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (www.geears.org), Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (www.gpee.org), The Junior League of Atlanta (www.jlatlanta.org), and Quality Care for Children (www.qualitycareforchildren.org).
Established in 2003, Voices for Georgia’s Children (www.georgiavoices.org) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the well-being of children and youth across the state and inspires Georgians – both legislators and everyday citizens – to act on their behalf. The organization provides the necessary research-based information, measures, collective voice and proposed legislation to help guide these decision-makers in the right direction – that is, supporting policies that ensure Georgia’s children grow up safe, healthy, educated, connected to their family and community, and employable.
For more information about Georgia Pre-K Week, please click here.
Representative Amy Carter represents the citizens of District 175, which includes portions of Lowndes County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2006, and serves as one of Governor Deal’s House Floor Leaders. She is currently the Secretary of Higher Education Committee and serves as a member of the Appropriations and Education committees as well as the Small Business Development and Job Creation Committee.
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