Why GCCOA exists

Georgia's licensed child care owners operate under a defined set of requirements: staffing ratios, staff training, facility and safety standards, and regular state inspections. Those requirements exist to protect children, and licensed programs meet them every day.

A separate category of license-exempt child care programs serves similar families without operating under those same requirements. GCCOA was formed to make sure the people who actually run licensed programs — and understand what those standards involve — have a direct, organized voice when this policy is discussed by lawmakers.

We are not a lobbying firm speaking on owners' behalf from a distance. We're a membership of the owners, regional operators, and staff who run licensed programs across the state, connected directly to the legislators who represent their own districts.

What we stand for

• A level playing field: the same basic standards should apply to every program serving Georgia families, regardless of exemption status.
• Education first: most people, including many lawmakers, don't know license-exempt programs exist as a distinct category, or what separates them from licensed care.
• The policy, not the provider: our position is about the exemption itself — never an attack on faith-based organizations, camps, or recreation programs as institutions.

How membership works

Signing up is voluntary and has no effect on your employment. We use your home address only to match you to your state, federal, and local representatives — legislators weigh messages from their own constituents most heavily. You'll get plain-language updates as this issue moves through each level of government, along with a ready-to-send message you can use in about a minute. We never sell or share your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.