FAQs
What is Smart Start and why was it established?Smart Start is the Early Learning Division of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. It was established to develop and implement a long-term plan to increase school readiness in Georgia with the aim of having all children ready to succeed in school by the time they enter kindergarten.
What is Smart Start’s current mission?
Smart Start strives to foster quality early learning experiences so that children are ready to succeed by the time they enter kindergarten. Smart Start’s focus is to improve the quality of early care and education for all children ages birth through five by:
• educating parents, caregivers, and the public on the critical need for quality early learning for all children; and
• promoting lifetime learning for children, the early learning community, and professionals to ensure greater achievement throughout a child's education and beyond.
How many programs does Smart Start provide to the community?
Currently, Smart Start is made up of 8 programs directly related to improving the quality of child care centers, group homes, and family care settings. Six of the programs are dedicated to serving the Metropolitan Atlanta area, two are statewide programs, and all support Georgia’s youngest citizens, birth to five years old.
Where can I get more information about Smart Start and its programs?
For more information about Smart Start, visit our website at www.smartstartga.org, call toll-free at 1.877.STARTGA or email us at info@smartstartga.org.
What is the Smart Start Early Care and Education Substitute Teacher Program?
The Smart Start Early Care and Education Substitute Teacher Program provides professional development to those who want to substitute teach in early care and learning facilities where children range in age from six weeks to five years. The program serves as a resource for directors of early care and learning facilities to help locate knowledgeable substitute teachers for their classrooms.
At the heart of the program is a five-day, interactive course that provides participants with the basic foundation of knowledge to support the developmental and learning needs of young children, birth to five years old.
Why was the Smart Start Early Care and Education Substitute Teacher Program created?
Every year 40% of child care workers leave their jobs. This turnover has an incredibly detrimental effect on children during the critical, formative years of birth to three. Additionally, those teachers and child care workers who remain in the field will periodically leave their classrooms for professional development classes or be out for a variety of reasons.
The Smart Start Early Care and Education Substitute Teacher Program was designed to provide qualified, caring teachers to work with children, six weeks to five years of age, when their regular teachers are out of the classroom.
When did the Smart Start Early Care and Education Substitute Teacher Program begin?
The Smart Start Early Care and Education Substitute Teacher Program was introduced to Georgia in November 2002, and it is in its 6th year of operation. The program was modeled after an innovative 3 ½ day training program developed for the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta Inc. (MJCCA). The MJCCA’s NAEYC accredited school sought to ensure high quality and consistency in their classrooms when their regular staff were out.
How many people have attended the Smart Start Early Care and Education Substitute Teacher Program?
As of 2007, more than 1,200 substitute teachers have graduated from the program. A number of graduates have written testimonials that you can review on our website.
Who are the people that typically attend your course?
The substitute teacher graduates represent a wide cross-section of educational backgrounds. Minimally, they have a GED or high school diploma, although many bring college credit hours, college or post-college degrees. Others may be part-time college or graduate students in early childhood education or in related or unrelated fields of study. Some graduates are retired professionals or seeking a career change. Some have experience with young children: a parent or grandparent who is raising or has raised or nurtured children, a former nanny, camp counselor, Sunday school teacher, a former teacher or caregiver, or even a parent returning to the work force. They may have extensive experience with children or very little.
What do your graduates share in common with each other?
The graduates share a common interest and passion for early learning for young children. The graduates have a desire to positively support young children in their growth and development and to help children successfully transition to kindergarten. They understand that quality early care and education have a long-lasting impact on children, their well-being and their ability to learn.
Why would I want to participate in your course?
The training provides a solid foundation of education about young children to support the role of a substitute teacher. It can open a door to working with young children and positively impacting their lives. It gives individuals an excellent opportunity to see if teaching is their field of choice and provides an alternative pathway into the teaching profession.
What will I learn as a participant in this program?
The topics include brain development, child development (ages and stages), child development theorists, developmentally and culturally appropriate practices, guidance and discipline, recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect, children’s infectious diseases, health and safety, and CPR and First Aid. In order to understand the child care facility environment that supports children, participants will learn about teacher-student ratios, the daily routine, and the classroom and learning centers and more.
What does the program provide to the participant?
• A quality educational experience
• training content notebook and resource material
• certificate for 18 state approved hours of credit (BFTS)
• CPR and First Aid card
• employment search tips and childcare resource information to develop a personal job search plan
• free link between potential employers and employees
Who are the course instructors?
The team of instructors, who provide an effective and fun adult learning educational environment, include university educators, doctoral candidates in the field of education, and well-respected Georgia early childhood education trainers and consultants.
What are the qualifications to participate in the 5-day course?
Eligible participants must be at least 18 years old, have a minimum of a high school or GED diploma, be able to receive a clear background check (no convictions), commit to substitute teach a minimum of 4 days a month and complete the five-day course.
How do I know if the course is offered in my area?
You can review our website’s training calendar for a city near you. We also find that some participants choose to apply for a location where they have friends and family. They will take the class in the convenient city and after graduation they will be listed for work in their home county and nearby counties.
What does it cost to register for the 5-day course?
The course is entirely free! Our professional program is funded through an Atlanta-based foundation. Funding provides the cost of the participant’s background check, a daily lunch, training materials, certificates and a high-quality educational experience.
How do I register to participate in the 5-day course?
Complete the program’s application – either on the website or a paper version. Online applications must be fully completed on the website, printed and signed when completed. Applications are then mailed or faxed to our office for processing on or prior to the application deadline listed on the website. Signed background consent forms must accompany the application for complete processing. Only completed applications are processed.
Do I need to have character references to be accepted to participate in your course?
Yes, we contact an applicant’s listed references. Two supportive character reference checks are required to attend the program. Listed references may include neighbors, friends, former or current co-workers and others. We will contact local or long distance references.
What do I do if my application is: incomplete, or does not list the required number of references, or does not reach your office before the application deadline?
If the application falls into any of the above categories, we are unable to complete the processing of your application. We recommend that you read the application to comply with all requirements and if you cannot provide the necessary information in time, consider having your application processed for a future class.
Do I receive any credentials for completing the 5-day course?
Graduates of the program receive a certificate with 18 hours approved by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, and a CPR and First Aid card.
Will the credit hours help me find substitute teaching assignments or a more permanent job opportunity?
The credit hours graduates receive for the course enable them the opportunity to work in any Bright from the Start: Georgia Department Early Care and Learning state-licensed childcare center or registered home daycare program. The program’s credit hours are almost double the minimum state requirement, and graduates of the program have reported success in both finding substitute teaching assignments and more permanent job offers. For more information about Bright from the Start visit www.decal.state.ga.us.
Will the credit hours transfer into college credit?
No, the credit hours do not transfer into college credit.
What happens after I graduate from the five day course?
You will be listed as an available and active substitute teacher on our website. Childcare center directors and home based program owners, pre-approved for access to our website’s database of graduates, will be able to view your name and other pertinent data you provided in your application. This information will help them to consider you as a potential substitute teacher or another position for their program.
Our office also prepares a graduate list (with names and contact information). This list is sent to your local Child Care and Resource Referral Agency (there are 14 in Georgia) and these non-profit agencies share the list with their network of child care programs.
Do you employ the graduates of the program?
No, we are not an employment service. We provide our graduates with employment search tips and childcare resource information that will help them develop a personal job search plan. Each graduate is an independent substitute teacher and has the ability to work in one or multiple childcare facilities in Georgia. Graduates may be offered and may choose to take a part-time or full-time teaching position.
What can I expect to be paid?
All child care programs have their own salary ranges and are usually based on the applicant’s education and work experience. Throughout the state of Georgia, the hourly rates will differ according to the local market. As employers, childcare owners or directors will interview and hire the substitute teachers, and negotiate hours and salary. All employment arrangements are determined by the childcare owner or director and the substitute teacher.
How often will I be called for work?
We recommend that graduates contact a number of childcare programs to ensure that they have the opportunity to be called for teaching assignments as often as they want employment. Graduates who are flexible and list more ages of children with whom they would like to work will usually have greater opportunities for teaching assignments.
Who can I contact with additional questions?
For more information call toll-free at 1.877.STARTGA, Andrea Irvin, Program Assistant at (404) 527-3632, Hollie Pavloff, Program Director at (404) 614-1020 or email us at airvin@unitedwayatlanta.org or hpavloff@unitedwayatlanta.org.
Child care facilities Frequently Asked Questions
How can the Smart Start Early Care and Education Substitute Teacher Program help my childcare program?
The Smart Start Early Care & Education Substitute Teacher Program offers a free source for finding knowledgeable substitutes for Georgia early care and learning child care facilities.
The Smart Start Early Care and Education Substitute Teacher Program provides an available pool of knowledgeable and energetic substitute teachers, substitute teachers with 18 hours of state approved training, a pool of potential future early care and learning teachers and consistency of staffing when a regular teacher is out.
Is there a fee to obtain a list of substitute teachers?
No, there is no fee.
How can I find information on available substitute teachers?
You can apply to our website (see home page for Child Care Providers) to access our database of graduates and their contact and work related information. As an approved childcare program owner or director, you will be able to view graduates’ names and other pertinent data to provide you with the information to contact them directly.
Additionally, our office prepares a paper graduate list (with names and contact information). This list can be sent to your facility via email, mail or fax.
What should I pay the substitute teachers?
The hourly salary rate is determined by each child care program. Usually the salary range is based on the applicant’s education and work experience. Throughout the state of Georgia, the hourly rates will differ according to the local market. We hope that the decision makers will recognize the value of an educated substitute teacher and offer a competitive rate and fair living wage.
If you prescreen your program candidates, should I still interview the Smart Start graduate?
Yes. As employers, child care facility owners or directors should interview the substitute teachers for hire, and negotiate hours of hour and salary. All employment arrangements are determined by the childcare owner or director and the substitute teacher.
Is there an upcoming course coming to my area?
You can review the website’s training calendar for a city near you. The training schedule will provide the date and general location of the planned training site.
How can I get someone enrolled in the course?
If you find a qualified candidate for the Smart Start Early Care and Education Substitute Teacher Program, you can direct them to our website to begin the online application process or suggest that they contact our office directly to receive a paper application and marketing information about the program.
Online applications must be fully completed on the website, printed and signed when completed. Applications must be mailed or faxed to our office for processing on or prior to the website listed application deadline. Signed background consent forms must accompany the application for complete processing. Only completed applications are processed.
