Thousands of child care staff in Georgia will get $500 bonuses. When?

Georgia’s early child care professionals will soon receive $500 annual bonuses as part of a new initiative aimed at improving child care quality statewide.

In a move to recognize the dedication of early childhood educators, the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is launching its new Quality Rated Workforce Bonuses program.

The initiative will distribute annual stipends to full-time teachers and staff at Quality Rated child care centers, totaling over $17 million a year and investing in the 34,000 staff who help foster quality early education for children in the state, the department said.

“I am pleased that DECAL is able to invest $17 million a year to award these bonuses to the hardworking professionals and staff at programs delivering high-quality care and education to Georgia’s children,” DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs said in a press release.

The initiative kicks off this month, officials said.

The workforce bonus program is one of the first of its kind nationwide and aims to support the state’s 34,000 child care professionals, according to DECAL.

Bonuses will be distributed to staff at programs that meet or exceed the state’s Quality Rated standards, which help families identify top-tier child care providers.

“The (Quality Rated Workforce Bonuses) program will give child care providers who meet our highest standards some much-needed staff recruitment, retention, and recognition support,” said Dr. Bentley Ponder, deputy commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships.

“These payments serve as recognition for the hard work and dedication that early education professionals demonstrate daily in their efforts to help child care programs achieve and maintain their star ratings,” Ponder added.

The initiative is funded through the Child Care and Development Fund, which supports the improvement of child care quality across the state.

DECAL officials said they are committed to honoring Georgia’s teachers and support staff who help their programs deliver care and education that exceed minimum standards and earn 1, 2 or 3 stars under Quality Rated, the state’s quality rating and improvement system.

“The bonuses are available to all on-site teaching and support staff at Quality Rated child care programs, with each staff member eligible to receive one payment per year,” according to the department’s press release.

This story was originally published April 9, 2025 at 11:57 AM.