Did you Know about the CCLC Program?

Brooks County CCLC Program, The Child Care Learning Center, is a program that serves Brooks County children from as young as 6-weeks to three years of age. It is a branch off the earlier Early Learning Center which was licensed in August 2019. 

The CCLC Program is a program typically a daycare program for infants and toddlers (recently opened). Two-year-olds and Three-year olds are in the early learning program that goes on the basis of the GELDS (Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards) and the Four-year olds are in the Early Learning Program. The GELDS standards are specifically aligned with Physical Development, Social and Emotional Development, Communication, Language, Literacy, and Learning through play. 

“The GELDS are a continuum of skills, behaviors, and concepts that children develop throughout this time of life. They are divided into age groups and serve as a framework for learning. The GELDS are aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) for K-12, and the Work Sampling System.,” says Director Dr. Tammie Patterson. 

Those who enter the program are considered the Brooks County School systems students. Priority for spots goes to the employees working in the school system but spots are open for all the age groups for those in the community. The program goes by the State guidelines which dictate the capacity of all their classrooms, so growth in the future will highly depend on the future. “We focus on the safety and attention given to the students enrolled. We plan to continue our quality rating status and by providing instruction in a safe environment,” said Patterson. 

The CCLC program does not have a deadline for enrollment. There is also no transportation for them, so it would be up to the parents to pick up their child(ren) or arrange other means of transportation. Enrollment packages must be filled out, to enroll the child(ren) and those can be picked up at the Early Learning Center. Documents needed in order to enroll are valid immunization certificate, birth certificate, and the application. 

Should parents who want to enroll their child(ren) need assistance they may obtain an application at DECAL (Department of Early Learning and Care). The CAPS (Childcare and Parent Services) offer programs that help early education goals for low-income families. CAPS programs pay for daycare and childcare costs, so the parents may work, go to school or work-training, or participate in other work-related activities. 

Should you be concerned about the need or mandate of a mask, have no fear. Brooks County Schools have never mandated a mask protocol and they do not require a mandate for any of their students (including little ones). They give students the opportunity to wear one or not, leaving the decision up to their parents or the child. 

Patterson, a long-time employee of Brooks County Schools, is the director of this program. She and several more work together in order to continue this program, bringing things into the program to help the children including the renovation of their very own library, and new playground equipment. Patterson is also working on building an area outside for “outdoor” learning where students may explore, learn about the outdoors and be safe. 



If you would like to know more about this program and what it has to offer you may contact the Early Learning Center or Brooks County Board.