GAYC and GCCA Partnership
Two organizations, two missions
GAYC
The mission of the Georgia
Association on Young
Children is to encourage and
support healthy development
in young children by working
with others 1) to increase
public awareness of the
importance of early childhood
education and 2) to improve
the quality of programs for
young children through
learning opportunities for
early childhood educators.
GCCA’s New 501c3
“ Early Childhood Learning
Alliance” ECLA
The mission of “ ECLA” is to
effectively enhance the quality
of early childhood education,
in collaboration with families,
educators, businesses and
communities, through
innovation, best practices and
educational initiatives.
GCCA’s Objectives
To promote connections that allow interested
stakeholders to positively affect early education
outcomes that build a foundation for young learners
to succeed in school and the 21st century workforce.
 To improve the quality of early learning environments
and impact outcomes for young children through
professional development, quality initiatives, and
educational programs.
 To provide necessary communication to parents,
policy makers and the business community about the
need for early learning investment as well as educate
parents about the components of quality early
learning.
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What does it look like?
GCCA currently employs:
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1 FT Executive Director
1 FT Lobbyist
1 FT Business Developer
1 FT Admin
1 PT Admin
Would add:
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1 FT Program Manager
1 PT/Contract Professional
Development Person
Partnership Opportunities
 Conference – could partner
to provide
Director/Owner/Leadership
tracts and increase revenue
and vendor relationships
 Educator Bridge –
opportunities to leverage staff
and networks in order to
promote and develop
 Professional Development
 Membership Benefits
What’s in it for GAYC?
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Opportunity to have staff and office
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Opportunity to maintain footing in
the state as quality leader with
enhanced resources
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What’s in it for GCCA?
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Access to our network of trainers
and leverage with our reputation of
providing quality professional
development opportunities
Stronger visibility and voice with
DECAL and other decision makers
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Access to our relationships with
providers
Opportunity to influence decisions
at the state level affecting quality
(advocacy)
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Stronger visibility and voice with
DECAL and other decision makers
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Existing 501c3 with a proven track
record of fiscal responsibility and
sound relationship with local funders
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Access to our vast knowledge and
expertise on the board level for
informing conversations with
DECAL
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Added value for our membership
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Opportunity to develop underdeveloped initiatives that we don’t
have the man-power for right now
Shared benefit: Stronger visibility and voice with
DECAL and other decision makers and stakeholders
What about NAEYC?
With the affiliate discussions changing, we
will have a better chance at meeting
requirements to affiliate directly with
NAEYC
 Will continue to advocate for
accreditation and will have a stronger
voice to do so through discussion with
DECAL regarding accreditation and QR
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What about GCCA’s Current Mission?
Protecting Georgia’s Children and the Businesses that Serve them.
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We advocate for sound public policy that fosters quality, affordable
and accessible child care for working parents. We advocate for
effective industry regulation that does not burden business with
costly, inefficient mandates and that does foster safe
environments for children to learn, play and grow.
We communicate with a broad spectrum of policymakers and
regulators whose influence and actions directly impact the early
learning and child care community and we strive to offer best-inclass solutions that will prepare Georgia’s children for a bright
future. We communicate with parents, the public and the press on
timely issues that impact families, our member businesses and the
broader communities they serve.
We educate administrators to ensure a thorough understanding of
the state’s licensing requirements and the consequences of noncompliance. We educate owners and directors, offering professional
development opportunities as well as resources to support their
business processes, to guarantee their financial solvency and to
assure the long-term sustainability of their enterprise.
Possible next steps…
Option #1
 Identify key areas of
partnership; possibly
Educator Bridge and
Conference
 Develop an MOU w/
GCCA
 They move forward
with developing their
own 501c3 separate
from GAYC
Option #2
 Full merger
 Keep GAYC’s name
and work in tandem
 Discuss how GAYC
board members will
maintain their
involvement (possibly
continue in an advisory
capacity, some move to
their board, some join
committees, etc.)
Final thoughts
What happens if we don’t?
 What about disagreements with regard to
advocacy?
 What will be the unintended
consequences we aren’t thinking of?
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