Georgia’s Pre-K Program is in its 26th year, and hundreds of state and local leaders are celebrating by reading to the state’s youngest learners from Oct. 1-5. 

The lottery-funded Georgia Pre-K program was launched in 1992 by Governor Zell Miller as a pilot program serving 750 four-year-olds. Since then, the program has laid a solid foundation for academic excellence and future success in the lives of approximately 1.6 million children. 

Now in its eighth year, Georgia Pre-K Week is coordinated by Voices for Georgia’s Children, a policy and advocacy non-profit organization. The goal of Pre-K week is to emphasize the importance of quality early childhood education by providing opportunities for leaders to engage with Pre-K classrooms in local communities. 

Once again, Georgia Power and Reach Out and Read Georgia are returning as a sponsors of Pre-K Week, which has been ardently supported by Governor Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal, state commissioners, state and local elected officials and other special guests. 

“The broad and diverse base of support from around our state is evidence that Georgia’s leaders care about and understand the long-term impact of quality early learning on each child,” said Dr. Erica Fener Sitkoff, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children. “Research consistently shows that children entering kindergarten from quality early learning settings are more prepared and ready to learn, which our leaders see first-hand during Pre-K Week.” 

Countless state, business, and community leaders will visit Pre-K centers around the state this week to witness early learning in action. Nearly three out of every four state legislators, and nearly half of Georgia’s congressional delegation have participated in the event since it began in 2010. 

“We are grateful to see Georgia’s state and local leaders celebrate Georgia’s Pre-K Program,” said Amy M. Jacobs, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), which administers Georgia’s Pre-K Program and licenses and monitors the state’s child care learning centers. 

“By participating in Pre-K Week activities, our leaders show parents and the public that they value quality early education and its impact on students, families and our state.”