The Issue
Licensed vs. license-exempt child care
Two categories of child care operate in Georgia today, and most families — and many legislators — don't realize they're regulated differently.
Licensed programs
- Meet state-mandated staff-to-child ratios
- Require staff training and background checks
- Follow facility and safety standards
- Undergo regular, unannounced state inspections
License-exempt programs
- A defined set of programs excluded from the standard licensing requirements
- Can serve similar families and age groups as licensed programs
- Not held to the same ratio, training, facility, or inspection requirements
Why the gap matters
The standards licensed programs follow exist for a reason: they're the baseline protections families and regulators agree matter for the children in care. When a defined category of programs is exempt from those same protections, families evaluating their options aren't always able to tell the difference — and the programs that do meet every requirement compete on an uneven footing.
What we're asking for
This is a policy conversation, not an attack on any organization. We are not targeting faith-based organizations, camps, or recreation programs as institutions — we're asking that the exemption policy itself be reexamined, so that the standards protecting children apply consistently across the programs that care for them, at the state, federal, and local level.
Where this stands
This is an early-stage education and advocacy effort. As the policy moves — whether through a legislative session, a regulatory process, or a local ordinance — we'll post plain-language updates here and send them directly to members matched to the relevant districts.