Governor Perdue Submits Final Piece of Education Package

Bright from the Start Office to Help Prepare Children for Kindergarten

Atlanta - Governor Sonny Perdue today submitted his "Bright From the Start" legislation to the State House and Senate. The final piece of Governor Perdue's education package will launch the "Bright From the Start Office , Georgia 's Office of Early Care and Education." This new office will coordinate and streamline Georgia 's early childcare programs to ensure every child in Georgia enters kindergartenready to learn and succeed.

"I believe that this legislation is a bold and essential step to equip our children from the earliest ages with the tools they need for life-long learning," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "Giving our schoolchildren the best start possible in school will benefit them for the rest of their lives."

The legislation will empower the Bright From the Start Office (formerly the Office of School Readiness) to perform licensing functions for childcare centers, coordinate the functions of the Child Care Council, distribute federal Even Start dollars for early literacy, and oversee Smart Start Georgia. These changes will allow for better coordination between early childcare providers and eliminate duplication of resources.

The bill is being sponsored by the Governor's floor leaders as well as by Senator Joey Brush, Chair of the Senate Education Committee and Representative Brooks Coleman, Chair of the House Education Committee.