It’s a big week for Georgia’s Pre-K program. Started in 1992 thanks to then Gov. Zell Miller and the Georgia Lottery, the program celebrates its 11th annual Pre-K Week which encourages federal, state, and local leaders to engage with Pre-K classrooms in their communities.

“It’s a week to celebrate and recognize our nationally recognized Georgia Pre-K program,” says Deputy Commissioner Susan Adams.

And this year, the program has even more to celebrate as more children are coming back after the pandemic. Enrollment was down by 13,000 last year.

“Maybe they chose to keep them at home or send them to an environment with less children or be kept by a family member or grandparent,” Adams tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish.

Now, she says parents are feeling more comfortable sending their children back.

While total numbers for this year are still being calculated, Adams says classes for a six-week summer transition program were full and is a good indication for the regular school year.

>>Hear more from Adams below in 95.5 WSB Reporter Sandra Parrish’s on-air segment.

Like last year, Pre-K Week will be virtual with students getting special messages and having books read to them online.

“We have some local authors (and) different special guests that, at a specific scheduled time, any Pre-K program across the state can join in,” says Adams.

Gov. Brian and First Lady Marty Kemp will be among those reading to students.

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