PDF Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Strategic Plan ...

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning

Strategic Plan SFY 2017-2020

Amy M. Jacobs Commissioner

Memorandum from the Commissioner

TO:

Staff, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning

Members, Board of Early Care and Learning

Early Care and Education Stakeholders

Georgia Policy Makers

FROM: Amy M. Jacobs Commissioner

DATE: June 30, 2016

SUBJECT: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) Strategic Plan State Fiscal Year 2017-2020

With this memorandum I am introducing the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning's Strategic Plan for State Fiscal Year 2017-2020.

In this important plan you will find DECAL's mission and vision, the goals and objectives necessary to achieve our mission and vision, strategies to accomplish the goals and objectives, and how we will gauge our success.

This strategic plan will help DECAL focus our energy and resources on efforts the department has identified as priorities for the next four years; streamline our operations; and ensure that DECAL employees, child care providers, and other early care and education stakeholders are working toward the same or similar goals.

I encourage you to read the plan carefully, especially looking for areas where you "fit" into the plan and how you can partner with us to help meet the early childhood care and education needs of Georgia's children and families. I acknowledge that DECAL cannot, nor should we, implement this plan on our own. We willingly accept our role to lead the state's efforts to ensure that children are cared for in safe and healthy environments and are more prepared academically, social-emotionally, and physically for Kindergarten.

But, we desperately need the support of child care centers, family child care learning homes, public schools, other state agencies, child advocacy groups, and business, philanthropic, and faith based communities to successfully meet children's and families' needs in our state.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together for the wellbeing of Georgia's youngest citizens.

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Vision and Mission Statements

Vision:

Every child in Georgia will have access to high quality early care and education regardless of family income or location.

Mission:

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning enhances children's early education experience to promote their academic, social-emotional, and physical development in partnership with families, communities, the early care and education industry, and stakeholders.

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Executive Summary

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) strategic plan outlines the department's high level priorities for the next four years. The plan does not capture all the projects or activities in which the department and early learning community are involved, but rather charts the course for improvement in select, highly strategic areas. After reflecting on past work, submitting the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) state plan, and conducting a careful review of the Governor's strategic goals and the guidelines provided by the Office of Planning and Budget, a team composed of representatives from DECAL's divisions, units, and programs began the planning process.

The process began with an environmental scan, or S.W.O.T. analysis, assessing the department's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. After that, the team revised the department's vision and mission statements and developed four strategic goals, determined measurable objectives, and identified strategies to help accomplish the goals and objectives. The four strategic goals developed by the team are:

I. Contribute measurably to school readiness for children birth to age five in Georgia.

II. Increase the number of high quality, affordable child care programs statewide thereby improving access and better addressing the needs of all children.

III. Develop, engage, and retain a capable, well-trained, and effective workforce for the early care and education industry and for DECAL.

IV. Build a framework that aligns and coordinates DECAL programs and services across regions for children from birth to age eight.

These goals align with Governor Nathan Deal's direction and goals for the state. By working toward and ultimately achieving these goals, DECAL will contribute to a responsive, efficient, and fiscally sound state government; help lay a solid foundation for lifelong learning in the lives of Georgia's youngest citizens; help develop college and work ready students; and address the needs of all of Georgia's children and their families.

After completing a draft of the strategic plan 2017-2020, the team presented the key elements of the plan to DECAL employees, child care providers, early care and education advocates, and the DECAL board and surveyed their opinions/responses. The results of the surveys indicated strong support for the ideas reflected in this strategic plan. By working together to implement this plan, DECAL and its partners will enhance the quality of learning opportunities and environments for Georgia's youngest learners.

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Introduction

"Investing in education at every level -- from our youngest minds to graduating high school seniors to returning service members and military veterans -- has been, and remains, one of my top priorities." Governor Nathan Deal, May 2016

Georgia's strategic plan for the early care and education of its youngest citizens builds on a series of significant steps taken over the past two decades. Long recognized as a pioneer in pre-k investment, Georgia was also one of the first states to develop an executive-level department, the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), to serve the early childhood care and education needs of the state's children and their families.

Since DECAL was created in 2004, the department's focus has evolved from administering various individual programs to creating a comprehensive system of early childhood programs and services that address the needs of the whole child and family. Approximately 800,000 children ages birth to five live in Georgia, and many of them receive services from or participate in programs administered or monitored by DECAL.

This document details DECAL's strategic plan for state fiscal years 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. The plan provides an overview of the department and articulates the goals, measurable objectives, and strategies that will drive the department's work the next four years.

DECAL's strategic plan exists within the context of and aligns with Governor Nathan Deal's strategic direction for Georgia. Governor Deal's vision is that Georgia have "A lean and responsive state government that allows communities, individuals, and businesses to prosper." To support his vision, the Governor has identified a set of strategic goals grouped into the following broad categories: an EDUCATED Georgia; a MOBILE Georgia; a GROWING Georgia; a HEALTHY Georgia; and a SAFE Georgia. DECAL's strategic plan supports the Governor's vision for an EDUCATED, HEALTHY, and SAFE Georgia. (The Governors Strategic Plan goals are found in Appendix A.)

A team of DECAL staff representing each of DECAL's divisions, units, and programs developed this plan. The team began by analyzing the department's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). Based on the themes emerging from that analysis, the team generated a list of goals, objectives, and strategies to address the identified weaknesses and threats, capitalize on the opportunities, and build on the strengths. DECAL employees, board members, child care providers, and other external stakeholders had an opportunity to comment on the goals, objectives, and strategies, during webinars and through follow up surveys and correspondence.

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