Our office will be closed Wednesday, December 24th and Thursday, December 25th. Calls and emails will be returned in the order in which they were received beginning upon our return Friday, December 26th.

Looking for DECAL QR Payments (to apply for the $500 Quality Rated Workforce Bonus)? Click here.

What is the Professional Development System (GaPDS)?

The Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS), offered by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, supports the early care and education workforce. It enables you to build a comprehensive profile of your career, including your employment history, training hours, and earned credentials or degrees. You must create a profile on the GaPDS website to apply for DECAL Scholars programs.

Getting started is simple! You can register even if you haven’t earned a credential or degree yet. Download your free guide to creating a GaPDS account by clicking here. To learn more or to create your account, visit gapds.decal.ga.gov.

For questions or technical assistance, contact the GaPDS team at 404-334-6461 (or toll-free at 866-258-7737 outside metro Atlanta) or email them at gapds@decal.ga.gov.

DECAL Scholars programs, funded by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), empower Georgia’s early childhood educators to advance their careers and provide exceptional care and education to children and families. We envision a future where educators are committed to the profession, achieve their career goals, and provide Georgia’s children with high quality early care and education.

DECAL Scholars programs for early childhood educators include Scholarships for the CDA credential, college credentials and degrees, Montessori credentials, and educational counseling services. DECAL Scholars programs are managed by Care Solutions, Inc.

These programs are funded in whole or in part by the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and are subject to the availability of funds. All applicable provisions, rules and regulations of the funding source must be followed. Programs may be reduced or discontinued at any time if the Department (DECAL) determines that adequate funds are not available or have been de-appropriated.

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