ATLANTA – State Representative Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) joined government leaders from across the state this week in offering his support for the Georgia Pre-K program. As part of “Georgia Pre-K Week,” held October 3-7, Rep. Martin visited Kids R Kids on Tuesday, October 4th, where he read to pre-kindergarten students and saw firsthand the learning that happens each day thanks to Georgia’s Pre-K Program.
“I enjoyed my visit to see Georgia’s Pre-K at work,” said Rep. Martin. “The students were engaged and appeared to be enjoying a creative learning experience.”
Rep. Martin visited Kids R Kids, a private Pre-K provider located on Webb Bridge Road in Alpharetta, Georgia, 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.
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 Chuck Martin represents the citizens of District 47, which includes portion of Fulton County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2002, and is currently the Chairman of Budget & Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications, Regulated Industries, Science & Technology, and Ways & Means committees.
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