1. Why can’t I change the information in Facility Update?
You can only change the information that does not require an amendment or new application.
Note: Owners can update facility information by clicking the icon for that facility from the home page in the owner account.
2.How do I add or change information?
You can check or uncheck applicable boxes and remove, enter, or change information in text fields. Certain information for programs with
Georgia’s Pre-K must be changed in PANDA and other information requires a license amendment to change. Those areas are grayed out and cannot be
changed in DECAL KOALA. Always remember to click Save at the bottom of each page to save changes before going to another page.
3. What is Consumer Information?
Consumer information refers to all of the information available to the public when they search for child care. You can log in and change or add
program information yourself or the call center at Quality Care for Children, a Resource and Referral agency, will contact you to update it. The
Consumer Information e-mail and phone are for the person best able to provide current information to the call center.
4. What is “Desired capacity”?
As a licensed provider your classrooms are measured to determine how many children can be in each room and the building is given a total license
capacity. You may choose to enroll fewer children than the total license capacity. For instance, your program may have a measured capacity of
100 children, but you choose to enroll only a total of 80 children. Your desired capacity would be 80 children.
5. Why can’t I add pictures and a logo?
Programs that are
Quality Rated can upload a logo and pictures to DECAL KOALA that will be displayed in the public search. If your program is
Quality Rated and you cannot upload a logo and/or pictures, email
decalkoala@decal.ga.gov for assistance.
6. How do I upload pictures?
- Save the picture(s) to your computer.
- In DECAL KOALA, go to Facility Update and then to Logo and Photos. Select Add more Photos and then select Browse.
- Select the picture you want to upload and click Open. Then enter a Caption and click Upload Photo.
- Choose the picture(s) you want to submit for review and select Submit for Review.
7. Why do pictures have to be approved before they can be displayed?
Call center staff will review pictures only to verify the
Content Guidelines have been met.
Content Guidelines:
- Can not contain children.
- Can not contain licensing violations (alcohol, drugs, wine glasses etc.)
- Can not contain parents.
- Can not contain videos.
- Must be of the licensed facility location, no field trips or public location.
8. What does it mean when the e-mail address is disabled on the Facility Update page (or Contact Information) page?
This means that a delivery failure notice was received when a recent e-mail was sent to the address(es) listed. You must update the
Primary E-mail Address and may update or remove any secondary e-mail addresses.
9. How do I add a new director?
First, verify that the new director meets the credential requirements, which can be found in Rule 591-1-1-.31(1)(b)z.(i-xiii) of the Bright from
the Start Rules for Child Care Learning Centers.
Then, select Facility Update edit the director name and contact information, and Save. On the
Director Comprehensive Background Check Verification page, enter the date of birth and last four digits of the Social Security Number
for the new director. A director must have a satisfactory fingerprint comprehensive background check determination from DECAL before beginning
work. If a satisfactory comprehensive background check is NOT on file for the new director, your licensing consultant will be notified by e-mail.
Note: Any employee without a satisfactory comprehensive background check is not permitted on the premises while children are present.
10. I received a message that the new director does not have a satisfactory fingerprint comprehensive background check on file. What should I do?
You should take immediate action because any employee without a satisfactory comprehensive background check is not permitted on the premises
while children are present.
Go to http://decal.ga.gov/ChildCareServices/CriminalRecordsCheck.aspx for Livescan fingerprint instructions and information about comprehensive background check requirements. Contact your licensing consultant or call 404-657-5562 to speak to an intake consultant if you have questions.
11. How do I change my e-mail address?
For Directors:
If you are not a Georgia’s Pre-K provider, log in to DECAL KOALA, go to Facility Update page (or Contact Information) and update the e-mail address.
If you are a Georgia’s Pre-K provider, update the site e-mail address in PANDA and this will update the facility e-mail address
in DECAL KOALA the next day.
For Owners:
You can change the Owner e-mail address on the Update Contact Information page.
To change the primary, or a secondary e-mail address for a facility, go to Contact Information page, where you can update e-mail addresses.
12. I am a Georgia’s Pre-K provider. When I want/need to update information, should I use PANDA or the Facility Update process in DECAL KOALA?
Any information you currently update in PANDA, you should continue to update in PANDA, and the changes will automatically appear in DECAL KOALA
the next day. You can update any additional information on the Facility Update page in DECAL KOALA.
13. What do I do if the information is wrong on the Facility Update page?
You can edit (delete or correct) the information on the Facility Update page by following the process explained in the FAQs above.