Georgia Early Education

About the Foundation

Founded by Governor Nathan Deal and the Georgia General Assembly in 2017, the Georgia Foundation for Early Care + Learning makes strategic investments to improve and expand high-quality early education to help ensure all children in Georgia are prepared to succeed when they enter kindergarten regardless of family income or location. The Foundation will support education excellence by partnering with families, communities, the early care and education industry and stakeholders.

Amy M. Jacobs

Chair of the Board of Directors

Jacobs is the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. Appointed commissioner by Governor Nathan Deal in 2014, she oversees an annual budget of more than $800 million for programs benefiting children and families including child care licensing, nutrition, and early childhood education, specifically Georgia’s Pre-K Program. She is a member of the Georgia’s Children’s Cabinet, the Georgia Child Fatality Review Panel, the Alliance of Education Agency Heads, and the 2020 Complete Count Committee. She sits on the board of directors for the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and is chair of the board for the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy.

Laura Wagner

Executive Director

Laura Wagner serves as Executive Director of the Georgia Foundation for Early Care + Learning. Laura has served in various roles at DECAL after joining the agency in late 2014. Within the agency, she has held the roles of Early Education Empowerment Zone (E3Z) Director, CAPS Family Support Director, and Community Outreach and Partnerships Director. Prior to joining DECAL, she worked as Research Director at GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students. She holds a Master of Education degree from Vanderbilt University.