United States · Georgia · Child care licensing
Georgia daycare licence lookup.
Where the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning keeps its public child care search, the three fields it offers, and a planner for the order to use them in.
Short answer: Georgia child care programs are searched on DECAL FAST, the family site of the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning at families.decal.ga.gov, under the heading Search Child Care and Pre-K Programs Near You. The form has three fields, Facility Name, County and Zip Code, and says to use any field to search. Concerns about a program go to Child Care Services at 404-657-5562 or ChildCareServices@decal.ga.gov.
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Result
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What the DECAL FAST search offers
DECAL describes DECAL FAST as its online hub where you can search for child care, apply for CAPS and get support for your child’s well-being. The search form at the top of the home page is headed Search Child Care and Pre-K Programs Near You, carries the instruction “Use any field to search”, and offers Facility Name, County and Zip Code. A Find Child Care button leads to the same search. On November 11, 2026 the older family portal address ending in /ChildCare/Search returned a Page Not Found notice, so the home page form is the working entry point.
| What | Where |
|---|---|
| Official page: DECAL FAST | families.decal.ga.gov |
| Run by | Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) |
| Search fields | Facility Name, County, Zip Code (any one is enough) |
| Concerns about a program | Child Care Services (CCS): 404-657-5562 or ChildCareServices@decal.ga.gov |
| Quality Rated family support | 1-877-ALL-GA-KIDS (1-877-255-4254) or findqrcare@decal.ga.gov |
| Child not thriving in care | SEEDS helpline 1-833-354-4357 or seedshelpline@decal.ga.gov |
Licensing and Quality Rated are two different things
DECAL runs several programs on the same site, and two of them are easy to confuse. Child Care Services (CCS) is the licensing arm: the site describes it as licensing rules and regulations, program support in compliance and best practice, and information to help families find safe, quality care. Quality Rated is described as Georgia’s independent, trusted resource for families searching for high quality child care. A star rating from Quality Rated is a voluntary quality mark, not the licence, so a program without stars can still be licensed, and the licence is the thing to confirm first. CAPS, the Childcare and Parent Services program, helps low-income families pay for care and is separate again.
How to check a program, step by step
Search the facility name exactly as the provider uses it. If nothing comes back, shorten it to the distinctive word or two, since the record may be under the operator’s legal name. If the name search is too broad, add the county. If you only know where the program is, search by ZIP code and read every result. Open the record and compare the name and address with what you were given, then read what the record shows about the program’s licence. When something does not match, the question goes to Child Care Services, not to the provider. DECAL asks you to gather identifying information before you call: the program’s name and address, the names and ages of children involved and the staff members concerned.
Worked example
A neighbour recommends Sunshine Kids Academy in Fulton County, ZIP 30303. The planner says to search the name first, then “sunshine kids” if needed, then to filter by Fulton County or ZIP 30303. You open the record, confirm the address, and note whether it is also Quality Rated. If the program cannot be found under any of the three fields, you ask the provider for the name on its licence and call Child Care Services with the address.
Method
This page does not search DECAL FAST and stores nothing you type. The planner reads the name, county and ZIP you enter and lists the fields to use in order, then links to the official site. Wording and phone numbers were read from families.decal.ga.gov on November 11, 2026. What a record shows, and whether a licence is current, belongs to DECAL.
What this does not cover
- The contents of a program’s record: licence status and compliance history come from DECAL.
- CAPS eligibility and Georgia’s Pre-K enrolment, which have their own pages on the site.
- Programs outside DECAL’s licensing.
- Whether a program suits your child.
Figures read from the sources below on November 11, 2026. Last updated November 11, 2026.
Sources
- Georgia DECAL FAST: Search Child Care and Pre-K Programs Near You (retrieved November 11, 2026)
Common mix-ups
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Often assumedQuality Rated stars are the Georgia daycare licence.
What the source saysDECAL describes Quality Rated as Georgia’s independent, trusted resource for families searching for high quality child care, while licensing rules and compliance sit with Child Care Services, a separate program on the same site. [1]
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Often assumedThe old DECAL family portal child care search address still works.
What the source saysOn November 11, 2026 the /ChildCare/Search address returned Page Not Found; the Search Child Care and Pre-K Programs Near You form sits on the DECAL FAST home page with Facility Name, County and Zip Code fields. [1]
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Often assumedEvery field on the Georgia child care search form must be filled in.
What the source saysThe DECAL FAST form says to use any field to search. [1]
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Often assumedA concern about a Georgia daycare goes to the Quality Rated call centre.
What the source saysDECAL says to report a concern about a child care program to Child Care Services at 404 657 5562 or ChildCareServices@decal.ga.gov, gathering the program’s name and address and the names and ages of children involved first. [1]
Checked against these sources on .
Frequently asked questions
Where do I look up a Georgia daycare licence?
On DECAL FAST at families.decal.ga.gov, under Search Child Care and Pre-K Programs Near You.
What can I search by?
Facility Name, County or Zip Code. The form says to use any field to search.
Is Quality Rated the same as a licence?
No. DECAL describes Quality Rated as its resource for families searching for high quality child care; licensing sits with Child Care Services.
How do I report a concern about a Georgia daycare?
Contact Child Care Services at 404-657-5562 or ChildCareServices@decal.ga.gov, with the program’s name and address and the names and ages of the children involved.
The old DECAL child care search link does not work. Why?
On the day this page was written the /ChildCare/Search address returned Page Not Found; the search now sits on the DECAL FAST home page.
Does this page search DECAL FAST?
No. It builds a search plan from what you type and links to the official site.
Is this site part of DECAL?
No. This is an unofficial guide that is not affiliated with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.
Not legal advice
This page is general information from an unofficial guide, not legal advice, and it is not affiliated with the agency or regulator. Use the official search for the actual result. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.