State Education Agenda · District impact
What Georgia's early-learning agenda would change for your district
Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms ran on two early-learning commitments: a Georgia Pre-K seat for every four-year-old whose family wants one, and required full-day kindergarten. Here is what her campaign plan says, what would still depend on the legislature, funding or agency guidance, and what a local board might have to decide.
What the campaign plan specifies
- Pre-K would be offered to families who want it, and would keep its mixed delivery: public schools, private providers, Head Start, faith-based providers and other approved partners.
- Rollout would start in the counties with the longest waiting lists and then expand statewide as classrooms and teachers become available.
- Recurring costs would be paid from lottery and new casino-gaming revenue; one-time costs from reserves.
- Up to 2,600 more classrooms could be needed, with a lead teacher and an assistant teacher in each.
- Kindergarten would become a required step, in full-day form.
What would depend on legislation, funding or agency guidance
Legislation
- Casino gaming needs a constitutional amendment, which in Georgia goes to voters only after the General Assembly approves it.
- Requiring kindergarten means changing the state's compulsory-attendance law.
Funding
- The state budget would have to add recurring Pre-K money; the plan's own estimate is about $330 million a year if every unserved child enrolled.
- If the casino amendment fails or revenue falls short, the campaign material doesn't say how the expansion would be paid for.
Agency guidance
- The Department of Early Care and Learning sets Pre-K rules, including teacher requirements and startup grants for new classrooms.
- The Department of Education and local boards would shape how required kindergarten runs.
Decisions a local board could face
Pre-K
- Whether to open or convert classrooms in district buildings, or partner with private and Head Start providers instead.
- How to hire and keep lead and assistant teachers while pay and certification pathways are still unsettled.
- How to provide transportation for new classrooms.
Kindergarten
- Whether the district offers full-day kindergarten everywhere today, and what conversion would cost if it doesn't.
- How to plan enrollment, staffing and buses if attendance becomes required.
Open questions
- Which counties would go first, and when would a district's county be reached?
- How much would early-educator pay rise, and who would fund local pay adjustments?
- What would happen to districts and providers that already run Pre-K at capacity?
- At what age would kindergarten be required, and would families have any exemptions?
Track the commitments
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No public hearing, comment period or vote has been verified yet. We’ll list one here once its date and official link are confirmed.
Where decisions will be made
- Georgia General Assembly (bills, committees, calendars)
- Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (Georgia Pre-K)
- Georgia Department of Education
Questions to bring to a meeting
- How many four-year-olds in our district are on a Pre-K waiting list today?
- Do we have classroom space and teachers for more Pre-K seats, or would we rely on community providers?
- Is our kindergarten full-day in every school? What would be needed to make it so?
- How would new classrooms affect our transportation routes and budget?
Last verified November 4, 2026