Children's Development Academy

In 2022-2023, the Children's Development Academy (cda) provided high-quality, affordable early care and learning programs to more than 200 children from low-income families who otherwise would not have the opportunity to attend preschool. The cda serves preschool children ages 1 to 5, including three Georgia pre-k classrooms. The cda employs full time, experienced and highly qualified teachers. Our low student-teacher ratios ensure that each student receives daily interaction and individualized instruction that studies have shown ensures positive outcomes when students reach kindergarten and beyond. The cda's primary objective is kindergarten readiness, and children entering our one year-old classroom today receive the foundation necessary for a stronger start in kindergarten at age five and of achieving the vital educational milestone of reading at the third grade level when they are eight. The cda follows evidence-based practices of quality early childhood education, early intervention, nutrition, and healthcare that support a child's intellectual Development and academic success.the cda follows the play-based creative curriculum that promotes social/emotional, physical, cognitive, and language Development, and our comprehensive preschool program includes the following for each child: an early literacy program focusing on pre-reading skills and language acquisition; enrichment activities including field trips, cultural performances, and nature explorations, and in-center visits from community helpers; parent-teacher conferences, parent workshops and family-based activities that inform and engage parents in their child's education; developmental assessments that ensure that students are on track; and each child receives a nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snack each day, following Georgia's bright from the start and cacfp nutrition guidelines. Cda families have incomes that put high quality early education out of reach financially. Fundraising allows the cda to provide free to extremely affordable tuition to our families on a sliding scale based upon household size and income. The average cost for preschool in our community is over $400 per week, but cda families pay an average of only $75 per week to attend, with many families paying nothing at all. Keeping our programs highly affordable for low-income families is our number one priority and is only possible as a result of the generosity of our donors, corporate partners, and foundations.

National association for the education of young children (naeyc): the cda continues to meet or exceed the national standards for early care and learning programs. We received naeyc reaccreditation in april 2014 and may 2019. Fewer than 4% of Georgia's childcare centers are naeyc-accredited, clearly setting the cda apart as a center of high quality.quality rating: the cda has consistently maintained a three-star quality rating from Georgia's bright from the start for many years, most recently receiving renewal in 2022 when our program received bonus points to achieve a score of 47 out of 45 points. This is the highest rating possible - only 10% of eligible centers in Georgia receive a three-star rating - and represents incredible hard work by our staff and a commitment to provide high quality early education to the children in our program.

Georgia pre-k and rising programs: since 2010, the cda has offered three Georgia pre-k classrooms that serve 66 children each year. In 2012, the cda was chosen for a six-week summer pilot program, the rising-k summer transition program, which served children deemed to be at risk of school failure without additional support for making the transition to kindergarten. The cda has worked with the state to offer this important summer transition program every year since, including 2022 and 2023. And, in the summer of 2013, the cda helped launch another bright from the start pilot program to provide a six-week summer preparatory curriculum for english language learners entering pre-k in the fall. This rising pre-k summer transition program has been renewed by the state at the cda every year including 2022 and 2023.