Georgia childcare staff to receive “Back to School Supply Supplement”

ATLANTA– As schools and childcare programs across the state prepare for the start of the 2022-2023 school year, Gov. Brian P. Kemp and Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs have announced that all eligible childcare teachers and staff in Georgia will receive a second $125 “Back-to-School Supply Supplement” through the American Rescue Plan. A previous supplement was distributed in Spring, 2022.

“As we head into a new school year, we will not stop working to provide our educators with the tools they need to set their students on successful paths of lifelong learning,” said Kemp. “We hope this Back-to-School Supply Supplement will help provide necessary resources as they get their classrooms set up and welcome children back to safe, secure, and productive learning environments.”

“These supplements are designed to support a safe, complete return to in-person learning and educators who are still grappling with pandemic-driven learning loss in the classroom,” said Commissioner Jacobs. “We are pleased to work with the Governor’s Office in providing this continued support to all eligible childcare teachers and staff in Georgia.”

The “Back-to-School Supply Supplement” will be provided to all childcare teachers and select staff members, as well as family childcare learning home providers who work to provide instructional and supportive services directly to students on a daily basis. It will amount to $125.00 for each eligible staff member to buy materials, supplies, or other items that can be used for age-appropriate, educational purposes that support the learning, growth, or development of students. Such allowable educational purposes are to enhance classroom materials, address learning loss, or benefit the education of students.

For childcare programs, each staff member in an eligible role who received a POWER Round 3 payment will automatically receive this classroom grant. For Georgia’s Pre-K Program, eligibility for Pre-K lead and assistant teachers will be determined by August teacher data.

Staff members will not receive the funds directly. Instead, the funds can be accessed and must be spent through a vendor called ClassWallet. Through the ClassWallet website, recipients can purchase supplies and materials through DECAL approved vendors only. The funds must be spent by Oct. 31, 2022. Eligible staff members will receive an email directly from ClassWallet that will include directions for accessing the funds.

For more information on ClassWallet, e-mail info@classwallet.com.