In March 1996, the Office of School Readiness (OSR) was created as a one-stop children’s department incorporating pre-kindergarten, nutrition programs and some early intervention services. The department’s enabling legislation provides authority to:

• administer programs and services necessary for the operation and management of voluntary pre-kindergarten;
• administer programs and services necessary for the operation and management of preschool and child development programs, such as Even Start and childcare regulation and food programs;
• act as the agent of the federal government in administration of any federal funds granted to the state to aid in the furtherance of any functions of the office; and
• assist local units of administration in Georgia to assure the proliferation of services under this chapter.

For pre-kindergarten providers, Georgia’s OSR both requires and provides training during the school year. For information and the training schedule, please visit www.osr.state.ga.us.