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how the professional development advisory structure interacts with the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care. The Lead Agency convenes advisory committees that include representatives from state education agencies, technical colleges, universities, and early learning professionals working directly with children for professional development projects. Advisory committee makeup depends on the specific project or initiative. The committees review and make recommendations on the state's professional learning initiatives. iv. Articulation. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about articulation agreements, and collaborative agreements that support progress in degree acquisition. Georgia has collaboratively developed a strong articulation system from the community-based child development associate (CDA) to technical college credentials to four-year degrees. The 120 clock hours of early learning coursework required for the CDA, earned from the Council for Professional Recognition, may be used for credit toward a certificate, diploma, or degree program from a technical college. The technical certificates will articulate into an associate's degree. Many of Georgia's technical colleges have individual agreements with regional four-year institutions. As part of the state's ongoing work in this area, the Lead Agency is working collaboratively with the Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of Georgia to expand articulation and to embed the previously mentioned WKCs into coursework across participating institutions. Further, the Lead Agency has established strong relationships with the Georgia Department of Education to support the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program, which includes a track for high school students to receive initial training in early childhood education. v. Workforce information. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about workforce demographics, educator well-being, retention/turnover surveys, actual wage scales, and/or access to benefits. The Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS) tracks the credentials, degrees, trainings, and work history of the state's early learning workforce. While the information provided in GaPDS is self-reported by each individual user, degrees, credentials, and trainings are verified by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC), the same state agency that verifies degrees and credentials for K-12 teacher certification. GaPDS also allows users to search and register for trainings offered by the Lead Agency. GaPDS provides the Lead Agency with one central system to gather data on the professional learning pathways of the early learning workforce. vi. Financing. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about strategies including scholarships, apprenticeships, wage enhancements, etc. As described in section 6.1.5, the Lead Agency's Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) Scholars program provides scholarships and financial incentives for qualifying early learning professionals to obtain an initial or higher degree or credential in early learning. In addition to providing scholarships to attend public or private state institutions, the DECAL Scholars program also provides participants with stipends to help purchase books and materials needed to adequately participate in their chosen degree or credential program. Upon completing a degree or credential, qualified participants may also receive financial bonuses to reward successful completion of the program and to encourage retention with their same