Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS)

Tomorrow at National Strolling Thunder’s Virtual Rally, Georgia will be represented by Baby Tatum, who’s got a warm smile and parents in both sides of the early learning industry. As a preschool curriculum specialist, Tatum’s dad, James Jackson, knows high-quality care is essential. He also has a tough time hiring and retaining teachers for unstable, low-paid jobs. As a parent, Jackson has sacrificed home ownership to afford Tatum’s child care costs. Click the link in comments to read Baby Tatum’s story as he advocates for increased congressional support for early learning.

Tuesday was National Strolling Thunder Day! GEEARS and ZERO TO THREE teamed up at the U.S. Capitol to raise the voices of parents, child care providers, and more. We delivered nearly 250 letters to Georgia’s U.S. senators and representatives about the joyful, challenging, enterprise of raising a young child in our state today. These letters—written during GEEARS’ Georgia-based Strolling Thunder in January—leverage powerful stories to call for policy change and added investment in early childhood. You can join these advocates! Click the link in comments to attend the Virtual Strolling Thunder Rally on June 16th.

GEEARS has submitted an official public comment on the recently released Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access.

Our message is clear: expanding access must go hand‑in‑hand with supporting the Head Start workforce that makes high‑quality early learning possible.

Read our full comment and learn why compensation, benefits, and stability matter for Georgia’s children and families.

GEEARS' Official Public Comment on Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access - GEEARS On May 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start . . .

From the moment a baby is born, their parent or caregiver becomes an advocate. When that child has a disability or developmental delay, advocacy can escalate into a full-time job. Our latest SaportaReport column shows parents that when you advocate for your child, you can make change for many! Click the link in comments to read.

Congratulations to GEEARS staff members Gbemi Famule and Caitlyn Sanders on completing the Georgia Children's Cabinet 2Gen Academy! They spent the past year building leadership skills, collaborating with partners across state agencies, and exploring strategies to support children and families.

Read our latest newsletter to meet our new CEO, hear about our busy month, and learn about opportunities at GEEARS. We're hiring a new Development Manager and recruiting for our second cohort of Early Childhood Changemakers. Click the link in comments to check it all out!

GEEARS is growing! We’re seeking a Development Manager to expand our network of donors and funders, manage sponsorships, and support our fundraising events and campaigns. Is this your skill set? Are you passionate about the power and potential of early childhood? Click the link in comments to apply today!

It’s Election Day! Use this list to make sure you’re prepared as you head to the polls today. Click here to check your polling location and hours: https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

Tomorrow (5/19) is Election Day. Georgia’s youngest children are counting on you! Click here to view your sample ballot, which lists every candidate and ballot measure you’ll vote on tomorrow: https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

Georgia’s Primary Election Day is this Tuesday, May 19th. Your voice is their future. Click here to check My Voter Page for polling locations, sample ballots, and more: https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/