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From the Director
There are nearly 400 National Campaign for Grade-Level Reading communities across the country and 94 of them are in Georgia.
A recent Marietta Reads community learning event demonstrated why we're leading the way in supporting children’s language and literacy development. Partners shared innovative tools and strategies grounded in our four-pillar framework to ensure that language and literacy are accessible to all. Participants heard from local pediatricians, librarians, juvenile court judges, educators, and district leaders, and statewide resource providers from Marcus Autism Center, Atlanta Speech School, and Georgia Department of Education. I was inspired to see a community use our partners' tools and approaches—and make them their own.
Our tools—including “lightning talk” videos, community workbooks, data portals, and infographics—can help you host your own event to celebrate and galvanize the work you’re doing together for children in your community. We hope you will let us know when you do.
With gratitude,
Arianne
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#GetGAReading this Month
Please share this post on your own social media platforms this month.
 Register now for the @GeorgiaOrganics #GA Farm to School and Early Care and Education Summit, which includes hands-on workshops, field trips & education sessions for those interested in #FarmtoSchool & #FarmtoECE. https://bit.ly/1tpZrBw
 Register now for the Georgia Farm to School and Early Care and Education Summit. The farm to ECE and farm to school movement connects early care providers, schools, and local farms in an effort to serve healthy meals and snacks, improve student nutrition, and increase farm and gardening educational opportunities. https://bit.ly/1tpZrBw
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MEET THE CABINET
 Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) prepares future early learning educators and nursing staff to support young children’s learning and development. Two new TCSG Cabinet leaders, Assistant Commissioner of Adult Literacy Cayanna Good and Director of the Certified Literate Community Program Annaliza Thomas, will help strengthen the Campaign's two-generation efforts to support parents and children on their pathway to literacy through community adult and family literacy programs. Learn More
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LITERACY LEADER SPOTLIGHT
 Valerie Gilreath in Bartow County is co-founder and chair of the Bartow Literacy Council and founder and executive director of the Bartow Bookmobile—Reading to Go Places! Under her guidance, the council enrolled 2,046 children in the Imagination Library in one year. Her grant writing talent helped capture $78,000 for literacy initiatives. The council plans to add Little Libraries, partner with doctors and dentists to incorporate early literacy into checkups, grow summer reading programs, and provide “Welcome to the World” books for newborns.
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 Gov. Brian Kemp Celebrates Literacy Day
Gov. Brian Kemp joined State School Superintendent Richard Woods, former University of Georgia (UGA) football coach Vince Dooley, and former UGA football player and children’s author Malcolm Mitchell to celebrate Literacy Day on March 5 at the Georgia State Capitol. Mitchell read his book, The Magician’s Hat, to Pre-K students during the event. Gov. Kemp announced that he will form a literacy council.
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 LENA Grown Project Encourages Language Nutrition in Child Care
As part of Bright from the Start: Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) Language and Literacy grant initiative, Kid’s World Learning Center in Statesboro is participating in the LENA Grown initiative to promote language-based interactions between infant and toddler educators and the children in their care. The delivery of Language Nutrition has more than tripled since the initiative's launch.
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 Georgia Tech Fans Support Literacy in Atlanta
Coaching for Literacy (CFL) and International Paper presented the Get Georgia Reading Campaign with a $9,000 check for funds raised through CFL’s Fight for Literacy Games. All funds raised will enable positive impact for Atlanta children, supporting the expansion of the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools program at Emmaus House. Georgia Tech fans got involved in the local Fight for Literacy.
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 Asthma Van Helps Keep Atlanta Students Healthy—and in School
Students get regular check-ups from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta medical staff in the Care Mobile van, provided by Ronald McDonald House in partnership with the Atlanta pediatric system. Research has shown that these health centers improve children's health, reduce absenteeism, and increase access to medical care. The goals are to prevent ER visits and hospitalizations and keep parents at work.
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Inspire Children and Caregivers to Read Together
OpenIDEO’s Early Childhood Book Challenge, funded by the William Penn Foundation, is calling on storytellers to write manuscripts for a children’s book that engages children ages 0 – 3 and provides adults with ways to support early language development. The top manuscript will receive $20,000 in award money to make it publisher-ready. Submissions are due Friday, April 12.
State of Babies in Georgia
Georgia ranks among the bottom half of all states for infants and toddlers, according to a report by Zero to Three and Child Trends. The State of Babies Yearbook 2019 looks holistically at the well-being of America’s babies, compiling data on nearly 60 indicators for children ages 0 – 3 to measure progress across three policy areas: Good Health, Strong Families, and Positive Early Learning Experiences. Georgia leaders are working to address issues highlighted in the report by promoting child care affordability and accessibility through increased funding for Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) scholarships.
Parents 2018: Going Beyond Good Grades
Nearly nine in 10 parents—regardless of race, income, geography, and education levels—believe their child is achieving at- or above-grade level, despite national data that indicates two-thirds of students aren’t. A new report investigates this disconnect and explores strategies for providing parents with a more complete and accurate view, which will allow them to find the best resources for their children at home and partner with teachers to keep their children on track for college and life success.
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PBS KIDS Writers Contest
Submission Deadline: Friday, March 29
The Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) – PBS KIDS Writers Contest is officially open to Georgia students in grades K – 3. Children are encouraged to submit original, illustrated stories for great prizes and a chance to be featured on the GPB website. Learn More
Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS) 2019 Bus Journey
Thursday — Friday, April 25 — 27
Application Deadline: Friday, March 29
This three-day event will expose business leaders, policymakers, community leaders, and early childhood education and health leaders to innovative early childhood education and healthy development interventions across the state. Beginning in Atlanta, the 2019 journey will include the Savannah Early Childhood Foundation’s Parent University, as well as stops in Macon and other locations. Apply Now
Pre-K Educators Institute
Tuesday, June 4
Middle Georgia State University, Macon
Registration Deadline: Monday, May 20
DECAL hosts this institute for teachers, principals, directors, and school system personnel who work with Pre-K programs and 4-year-olds across the state to enhance their knowledge of early language and literacy teaching strategies. Register Now
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We Want to Hear From You
Our partners are the heroes in this work, and we want to help connect you with each other and with resources that can help you get even greater results. And we want to hear more stories. Please share yours with us so we can post it to getgeorgiareading.org. Send your stories—or any questions about the Campaign—to Arianne Weldon at arianne@gafcp.org.
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