What is Smart Start Georgia?
Smart Start Georgia (Smart Start), the Early Learning Division of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, was established to develop and implement a long-term plan to increase school readiness in Georgia with the aim of having all children ready to succeed in school by the time they enter kindergarten.
What is Smart Start Georgia's mission?
Smart Start Georgia is a statewide organization partnering to improve the quality of care and education for all children ages birth through five by:
- Collaborating with State and Federal government and early learning experts in communities throughout Georgia;
- Educating parents, caregivers, and the public on the critical need for quality early learning for all children; and
- Promoting lifetime learning for children, the early learning community, and professionals to ensure greater achievement throughout a child's education and beyond.
How did Smart Start Georgia begin?
In 1999, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation recognized a need in Georgia for quality, affordable child care that was accessible to everyone. The State of Georgia also recognized this need and joined the collaboration. Committed groups from the early care and education community, state agencies and the business community came together to develop a series of recommendations for improving the state of early care and education in Georgia. These recommendations evolved into what is now known as the four Smart Start Georgia programs.
Why did the Georgia Early Learning Initiative change its name to Smart Start Georgia?
After reviewing the organization's perception throughout the state, we found the Georgia Early Learning Initiative was confusing to some of our constituents. To be more attuned to the program's mission, we changed its name to reflect the outcome of our initiatives -- which provide a smart start for all of Georgia's children.
What does Smart Start Georgia do?
Smart Start Georgia develops quality resources, commitments and partnerships between child care providers, government and business leaders to improve the quality of the early care and education options available to Georgia's children.
What are the programs of Smart Start Georgia?
Smart Start Georgia is made up of 8 programs directly related to improving the quality of child care centers, group homes, and family care settings. Five of the programs are dedicated to serving the Metropolitan Atlanta area and the remaining 3 are statewide programs catering to Georgia’s preschoolers.
Metro Atlanta Programs
SPARK Georgia -- Kellogg’s initiative for school readiness that seeks seamless transition into school for children (ages three through six) who are at risk for not being ready to start school.
Born Learning – Helps parents, caregivers, and communities provide early learning opportunities for young children.
Early Reading First – Designed to transform existing early education programs into centers of excellence.
Get Ready to Read (GRTR!) -- An early literacy program designed to help early education and child care professionals, parents, and other caregivers, ensure young children are equipped with the fundamental skills necessary for learning to read.
Smart Playgrounds
- Play Smart -- Helps Georgia child care facilities create high quality outdoor play spaces for young children.
- Smart Tots -- Designed to enhance and improve infant and toddler playgrounds and to promote safety and educational play for Georgia’s youngest children.
Statewide Programs
SCHOLARSHIPS -- Provides financial support for early care and education professionals as they continue their education.
INCENTIVE$ -- A statewide salary supplement program for eligible early childhood teachers, directors, and family child care providers who work directly with children ages five and under.
Training and Technical Assistance -- Training and Technical Assistance for centers and home providers in selected counties that are striving for excellence.
What parts of Georgia does Smart Start Georgia serve?
Smart Start Georgia is a statewide program serving all of Georgia, originally implemented by Bright from the Start. The SCHOLARSHIPS and INCENTIVE$ programs are available statewide.
Who is involved with Smart Start Georgia?
Smart Start Georgia's Board of Directors, partners and staff are active in furthering its vision that every child in Georgia will start kindergarten ready to succeed.
Smart Start Georgia's Board of Directors includes:
Robert Brown
President and CEO, RL Brown & Associates (Chair)
Barbara Christmas
Executive Vice President and CEO, Professional Association of Georgia Educators
DeWayne Foskey
President, Children's Friend Learning Centers
Edward J. Hardin
Partner, Rogers & Hardin
Russell Hardin
Vice President, the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation
Edward S. Heys, Jr.
Deputy Managing Partner, Deloitte
Daniel J. King
Partner, King & Spalding
Eydie Koonin
Vice President, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta
Greg Muzi
Director, Client Services Principal, IBM Corporation
Mark O'Connell
President, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta
Ben Scafidi
Education Advisor, The Office of the Governor
Joseph "Pete" Silver
Vice President, Academic Affairs and Professor of Political Science, Savannah State University
Guy Sims
President, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley
Mike Vollmer
Commissioner, Department of Technical & Adult Education
Carlis Williams
Southeast Regional HUB Director, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
Smart Start Georgia's partners include:
- Bank of America
- Black Child Development Institute Atlanta Affiliate
- Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
- Care Solutions, Inc.
- Department of Human Resources, Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) Section
- Georgia Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (GACCRRA)
- Georgia Association on Young Children
- Georgia Chamber of Commerce
- Heart of Georgia United Way
- Quality Assist, Inc.
- Quality Care for Children
- United Way of Central Georgia
- United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley
- United Way of the Coastal Empire
- United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta
- United Way of South Central Georgia
- United Way of Sumter County
- United Way of Southwest Georgia
- Wellsys Corporation
Smart Start Georgia's staff includes:
Sharen Hausmann, Executive Director
Sharolyn Ward, Director, Get Ready To Read! Southeast Regional Center
G. Kim Sumpter, Project Manager
LeWanda Hall, Project Manager
Cheryl Smith, Administrative Coordinator
Bridget Shepard, Website Coordinator
How is Smart Start Georgia funded?
Smart Start Georgia is funded by a combination of public and private sources. Fiscal Year 2004-20045, Smart Start Georgia received $11,127,675 million from the State of Georgia and a total of $2,567,900 from private sources.
Who can I contact with questions?
For more information about Smart Start Georgia call toll-free at 1.877.STARTGA or email us at info@smartstartga.org.
Can I participate individually?
Yes. Two of Smart Start Georgia's programs are available statewide to professionals in the industry of early care and education. SCHOLARSHIPS is a scholarship program designed to help early care and education professionals increase their levels of education in the field. For more information, call 1.800.939.9694.
INCENTIVE$, a salary supplement program, is also is available statewide and was designed to reward early care and education professionals for continuing to work in the field and for increasing their levels of formal education. For more information call 1.800.939.9694.
Where can I get more information on Smart Start Georgia?
For more information about Smart Start Georgia, visit our Web site at www.smartstartga.org, call toll-free at 1.877.STARTGA or email us at info@smartstartga.org.
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