Georgia

Georgia's early childhood care and education industry generates $4.1 billion worth of economic activity in the state last year, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Georgia and Georgia State University that evaluates the economic impact of the state's early education and childcare sector--including universal pre-k, for- and nonprofit childcare centers, home-based care, and Head Start programs. Researchers found that Georgia's early education and childcare sector is a powerful economic engine, bringing in some $2.4 billion in gross receipts annually across the industry. The sector also has indirect economic impacts that lead to expansion in other, related industries--such as food services, transportation, and manufacturing, for a total $4.1 billion impact on Georgia's economy. Even larger is the share of Georgia's economy that is dependent on the childcare and early education sector, that is, the amount of parents' salaries enabled by having access to childcare. In Georgia, researchers calculated this impact to total between $13.6 billion and $32.7 billion.

Chicago Tribune (08/13) quotes Steve Clemons on liberal opposition to a Bayh VP slot.
Pravda (08/13) quotes Flynt Leverett on Georgia's strategic mistake in provoking Russian aggression.
Israel E News (08/13) quotes Daniel Levy on Israel's shaky ceasefire with Hamas.
Washington Independent (08/13) quotes Peter Bergen on safe havens for Al Qaeda.
Financial Times (08/12) cites Steve Clemons on conservatives who support Obama.
Guardian (08/12) mentions Peter Bergen on American elites' evolving attitudes towards fighting terror.

The Hotline (08/12) cites Flynt Leverett on Obama's call for Georgia to disavow force.
US News (08/10) cites Steve Clemons' analysis of the United States' tacit support for Russia's invasion.
Guardian (08/10) quotes Steve Clemons on John Edwards' recent confession.
Houston Chronicle (08/09) quotes Steve Clemons on speculation over Senator Lieberman's VP chances.
Jewish Daily (08/07) features Daniel Levy analyzing a possible civil war in Gaza.
US News (08/01) cites Sherle Schwenninger on the United States' coming $2 trillion deficit.

Yesterday we wrote about a new report on southern states' efforts to improve early-education. Another new report, on Georgia's pre-k program, shows that that there is always room for improvement, even for states at the head of the pack. Georgia was the first state in the country to offer universal pre-kindergarten for every four-year-old, beginning in 1995. In doing so it helped launch today's national pre-k movement. Now in its 13^th year, Georgia's Bright from the Start pre-k program needs to refocus on improving both enrollment and quality if it wants to remain a pacesetter for the national pre-k movement.

We here at Early Ed Watch are big fans of Bravo's Top Chef, and we also love any excuse to put pictures of adorable children up on the blog. So we're pleased to congratulate Top Chef contestant Richard Blais and his wife, Jazmin, on the birth of their beautiful new baby girl, Riley (pictured here with her dad).