What did the court decide?

The Court of Appeals granted the Department's request for discretionary review and authorized filing a Notice of Appeal within ten days. It did not rule on the underlying dispute.

Who is affected by this order?

The parties in the case—the Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning (appellant) and iCare Child Development Center, Inc. (appellee)—are affected, as the case will proceed to the Court of Appeals.

The appellant must file a Notice of Appeal within ten days of the order, and the superior court clerk will include this order in the record transmitted to the Court of Appeals.

Does this decide the merits of the case?

No. This order only grants permission to appeal; the Court of Appeals has not decided the legal issues in the underlying dispute.

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CARE & LEARNING v. ICARE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC., D/B/A ICARE AT SAUNDERS

Docket A26D0446

Court of record · Indexed in NoticeRegistry archive · AI-enriched for research

AdministrativeGranted

Filed: Apr 21, 2026 · 1 week ago
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
Type: Opinion
Case type: Administrative
Disposition: Granted
Docket: A26D0446

Order granting an application for discretionary appeal and authorizing the appellant to file a Notice of Appeal

Summary

The Georgia Court of Appeals granted the Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning's application for discretionary appeal in the case against iCare Child Development Center, Inc. The order allows the appellant to file a Notice of Appeal within 10 days of the April 21, 2026 order and directs the superior court clerk to include a copy of the appellate order in the record transmitted to the Court of Appeals. This is a procedural grant of permission to pursue appellate review, not a decision on the merits of the underlying dispute.

Issues Decided

Whether the Court of Appeals should grant discretionary review to the appellant, Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning
Procedural requirement for filing a Notice of Appeal following grant of discretionary appeal

Court's Reasoning

The court exercised its discretionary authority to allow appellate review, permitting the appellant to initiate the formal appeal process by filing a Notice of Appeal within ten days. The order also ensures the appellate record will include this grant by directing the superior court clerk to transmit a copy of the order, facilitating proper appellate procedure.

Parties

Appellant: Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning
Appellee: iCare Child Development Center, Inc., d/b/a iCare at Saunders
Judge: Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

Key Dates

Order date: 2026-04-21

What You Should Do Next

1
File Notice of Appeal
The appellant should file a Notice of Appeal within 10 days of the April 21, 2026 order to perfect the discretionary appeal.
2
Ensure record transmission
Counsel or the superior court clerk should confirm that a copy of this order is included in the record transmitted to the Court of Appeals.
3
Prepare appellate brief strategy
Appellant's counsel should begin preparing the appellate record and briefing strategy now that discretionary review has been granted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the court decide?: The Court of Appeals granted the Department's request for discretionary review and authorized filing a Notice of Appeal within ten days. It did not rule on the underlying dispute.
Who is affected by this order?: The parties in the case—the Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning (appellant) and iCare Child Development Center, Inc. (appellee)—are affected, as the case will proceed to the Court of Appeals.
What happens next?: The appellant must file a Notice of Appeal within ten days of the order, and the superior court clerk will include this order in the record transmitted to the Court of Appeals.
Does this decide the merits of the case?: No. This order only grants permission to appeal; the Court of Appeals has not decided the legal issues in the underlying dispute.

The above suggestions and answers are AI-generated for informational purposes only. They may contain errors. NoticeRegistry assumes no responsibility for their accuracy. Consult a qualified attorney before relying on them.

Full Filing Text

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia

                                                               ATLANTA, April 21, 2026

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order

A26D0446. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CARE & LEARNING v. ICARE
    CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC., D/B/A ICARE AT SAUNDERS.


     Upon consideration of the Application for Discretionary Appeal, it is ordered that it be

hereby GRANTED. The Appellant may file a Notice of Appeal within 10 days of the date of

this order. The Clerk of Superior Court is directed to include a copy of this order in the record

transmitted to the Court of Appeals.


LC NUMBERS:

25CV012505




                                       Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
                                            Clerk's Office, Atlanta, April 21, 2026.

                                            I certify that the above is a true extract from the minutes
                                       of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.

                                            Witness my signature and the seal of said court hereto
                                       affixed the day and year last above written.

                                                                          , Clerk.