GEORGIA CCDF EVALUATION PROJECT PHASE II

Georgia Department Of Early Care And Learning, Atlanta GA

Investigators

Abstract

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) will expand and increase its research focusing on early education for the state?s infant and toddler population in Phase II of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Implementation Research and Evaluation Grant. The research aligns with goals embedded in the CCDBG Reauthorization of 2014, Georgia?s current Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) State Plan, and the work conducted during Phase I. The research will identify and address systemic barriers to high-quality infant and toddler care by addressing three general themes: classroom quality, the workforce, and access. The research encompasses five separate projects across the three themes:1) developing and implementing new professional development and on-site technical assistance models that will be compared in a randomized control trial2) creating and implementing a landscape analysis regarding infant and toddler teacher credentials3) surveying teachers, focusing on barriers to achieving higher credentials4) analyzing administrative and external data to identify where additional high quality infant and toddler care is needed5) surveying providers and families to determine barriers to accessing high-quality infant and toddler care.The results from this research will be used to inform Georgia?s CCDF policies relating to:1) use of the infant and toddler set-aside2) consumer education and outreach3) improving infant and toddler classroom quality4) supporting the infant and toddler workforce5) targeting infant and toddler supports and resources in areas with the most need.DECAL recognizes the value and need for high-quality infant toddler care in Georgia. As such, this multi-method project aims to improve the services offered to infants, toddlers, and their families, with the ultimate goal of raising the quality of infant and toddler classrooms and ensuring that all infants and toddlers, especially those with high needs, have access to high-quality services. The project will also help ensure that teachers working with infants and toddlers have access to professional development and credentialing opportunities that increase their own skill sets and help empower the infant and toddler workforce.