What is Reading 360? Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, only a third of Tennessee’s 3rd graders were reading on grade level. To help tackle this crisis, the Tennessee Department of Education dedicated $100 million to an initiative called “Reading 360” to help school districts, teachers and families help struggling Tennessee students learn to read. Read…
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TQEE responds to 2022 Nation’s Report Card
Following the release of the 2022 Nation’s Report Card by the National Center of Educational Progress (NAEP), which showed declines in student achievement nationwide and in Tennessee, Tennesseans for Quality Early Education issues the following statement from President and CEO Blair Taylor: “The 2022 Nation’s Report Card unfortunately highlights what we already knew – the…
» Read MoreTogether, we achieved big wins for little kids in 2021
As 2021 comes to a close, we extend our sincere gratitude to partners like you who help ensure Tennessee’s youngest learners get the brightest start possible. It is important to say that we don’t accomplish anything alone. From a successful legislative session to the launch of the Bright Start Tennessee Network (and everything in between),…
» Read MoreGovernor Lee’s Education Bill Package is a Strong Start for Tackling TN’s Early Learning Gap
TQEE actively supported the Lee administration’s education proposals during the special session as a strong and important start for addressing the literacy crisis and education-related challenges laid bare by the pandemic. With nearly two-thirds of Tennessee’s third graders not proficient in reading and math – a number that has likely worsened due to the COVID-19…
» Read MoreNew investment of TANF in evidence-based home visiting is a step in the right direction
TQEE has been among the state’s strongest advocates for expanding Evidence-Based Home Visiting (EBHV), a best practice in early childhood development which has repeatedly proven to strengthen parenting skills, reduce abuse and neglect, and get children ready for school. In addition to the well-documented positive impact on lives, the program generates savings for taxpayers up to…
» Read MoreBack-to-School 2020: Care.com survey reveals what’s really on the minds of working parents
We thought you’d be interested in the COVID-19 Working Parents Survey by Care.com. They asked 1,000 working parents with children under the age of 15 how they’re feeling about juggling their child care responsibilities with work responsibilities during this crisis. Here’s what the survey revealed: 64% of parents said they are at least somewhat uncomfortable…
» Read MoreWorking Parents Are Hitting Their Coronavirus Breaking Point—and Paying for It
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal reports the dire impact that COVID-19 is having on child care – many options are closed and prices are rising. According to the article: “Working parents going on six months without school or camp are about to take another hit: rising child-care costs. Parents with school-age children…
» Read MoreTennessee’s Child Care Crisis is an Economic Crisis
As Tennessee and other states nurture the reopening of their economies, a growing child care crisis poses extreme challenges for working parents and employers. With many school systems remaining closed this fall and nearly half of all child care centers now closed as well, working parents of young children face high-pressure decisions about how they…
» Read MoreSummer Learning At Home with PBS
As students step into summer and cap off the end of a disrupted school year, mitigating the proverbial “summer slide” is all the more important. To make sure that the educational gains made over the year are sustained and strengthened over the summer, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) has begun the second phase of…
» Read MoreKnox Co. Schools In-Home Learning Model: Q&A with Dr. Beth Lackey
Web-based education has become the new normal for school districts across the state, as teachers and students transitioned to remote learning models to curb the spread of COVID-19. While this transition has enabled teachers and students to utilize technology in new ways, it’s also highlighted the need for greater access to online learning materials for…
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