The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)has entered a strategic research-practice partnership with the Georgia Policy Labs’ (GPL) Child & Family Policy Lab. TCSG joins GPL’s statewide partners Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, and the University System of Georgia.

GPL’s Child & Family Policy Lab advances knowledge, decision-making and policies that benefit Georgia’s children and families over their life course by collaboratively developing rigorous, data-driven insights with government partners. The Lab’s long-term partners commit to an evidence-based approach to realize the safety, capability and economic security of every child, young adult and family in Georgia.

“TCSG is excited to partner with the Child & Family Policy Lab to inform our policy decisions,” said TCSG commissioner Greg Dozier. “By utilizing the Lab’s research expertise, TCSG will be able to gain further insight into how we can best serve our students, and in turn, grow Georgia’s workforce.”

“TCSG’s students are served and impacted by all our other state partners’ services and programs,” GPL senior director Maggie Reeves said. “By joining the multi-agency partnership, TCSG dramatically expands our ability to understand the intended and unintended consequences of cross-system policy and program changes.

“TCSG’s participation allows us to understand the policies and programs that are most supportive to individuals’ and families’ success as students, as workers and as parents. The partnership will also help TCSG achieve its mission of strengthening Georgia’s workforce through accessible technical and adult education.”

GPL’s partners participate in various projects that support their decision-making and work to incorporate actionable insights from the analyses. TCSG joins the University System of Georgiaand the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning in its first multi-agency project, which will examine the pathways and admission criteria that early childhood education professionals take in Georgia.