It’s well documented that Tennessee families are struggling to find quality child care and preschool, and most can’t afford it when they find it. As a result, many parents are reducing work hours or opting out of work altogether. In turn, businesses across the state are struggling to fill jobs and economic growth is significantly…
» Read MoreCategory Archives: Pre-k
New Report: TN PreK Quality Among Top 12 in Nation; But Access Still Lags
TDOE announced today that Tennessee’s Voluntary PreK Program (TN-VPK) now meets 9 out of 10 quality standards benchmarks that evaluate the effectiveness of preschool education programs, according to The State of Preschool 2020 report issued by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). Tennessee is among only 12 states in the nation with this distinction, which comes…
» Read MoreHappy Week-of-the-Young-Child!
Happy week of the young child everyone! The Week of the Young Child® is an annual celebration sponsored by the the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) 50 years ago to celebrate children 0-8 and their families. Watch this clip with Tabatha Rosproy, who was named Teacher of the Year in 2020…
» Read MoreMayor Jake Bynum – Weakley County, TN – On Early Education, PreK and Child Care
Mayor Jake Bynum of Weakley County, TN joined TQEE for our 2020 Day on the Hill to advocate for state policies that support quality early childhood education and, in turn, improved workforce and economic outcomes for Tennesseans. He shared his perspective with us on video, and was also joined in some of that video footage…
» Read MoreMayors Speak for Children at TQEE Day on the Hill
On February 19th, Mayors from counties across the state joined TQEE to emphasize the importance of policies that would allow for accessible and affordable childcare, expanded Pre-K and overall improved early learning. As Mayor Julian McTizic of Bolivar put it: “The future of our community and the future of our state depends on early childhood…
» Read MoreMayor McTizic – Bolivar, TN – On Early Education, PreK and Child Care
We were thrilled to have the support of Mayor Julian McTizic of Bolivar, TN at our 2020 Day on the Hill. Mayor McTizic joined us in advocating for improved early childhood education including expanded access to high-quality PreK and child care options for Tennessee families. Check out these videos below where the Mayor shared his…
» Read MoreTri-Cities Educator Says Pre-K Waitlist Shows Need is Great
Especially in difficult economic times, expanding access to Tennessee’s Voluntary Pre-K (TN-VPK) program makes good sense. The reason is simple – TN-VPK works: Plus, TQEE’s survey shows Tennesseans – Republicans and Democrats – are united in support Pre-K: Tennessee’s voluntary Pre-K program at present is limited to about 40 percent of eligible 4-year-olds. TQEE supports…
» 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…
» Read MoreNew Report: TN PreK Quality Improves Again
Tennessee now meets 8 out of 10 quality standards benchmarks that evaluate the effectiveness of preschool education programs, according to The State of Preschool 2019 report issued by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). This ranking comes as a result of successful policy changes that enabled Tennessee to meet the Continuous Quality Improvement…
» Read MoreTN Teachers Face the Challenge of COVID-19: Q&A with Jill Ramsey, Putnam County Schools
Teachers across the state have been transitioning to remote learning models as a result of school closures caused by COVID-19. To support students and families during this period, school districts across the state ramped up “distance learning” by expanding web-based education, mobilizing technology resources for needy students and creating a new relationship between teachers and…
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