Momentum builds for early care and education in Tennessee During the first year of the 113th Tennessee General Assembly, a large number of policy initiatives that align with Tennesseans for Quality Early Education’s Policy Blueprint 2.0 gained momentum. Below, we outline important legislative and budget items related to our priorities of high-quality birth-through-age-eight learning environments,…
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Reading 360: Tackling Tennessee’s Literacy Crisis
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…
» Read MoreTQEE helps launch Loud Voices for Little Kids
Tennesseans for Quality Early Education is excited to join forces with partners across the state to launch Loud Voices for Little Kids – a campaign driven by advocacy groups, nonprofit organizations, early educators, business leaders, parents and concerned citizens dedicated to advancing children’s success in the early years. The campaign aims to educate Tennesseans about…
» Read More2022 Legislative Wrap Up
Momentum continues for early care and education Tennessee saw some great wins for early education in the 2022 legislative session. The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act (TISA) In the biggest win for Tennessee children this session, the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act (SB2396/HB2143) passed, updating the K – 12 public education funding model…
» Read MoreVirtual Town Hall Summary Report
The Tennessee Education Funding Review and What it Means for Early Education: A virtual town hall with Commissioner Penny Schwinn Event overview On January 6, 2022, Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE) hosted a virtual town hall about the Tennessee public education funding review and what it means for early education. More than 120…
» Read MoreNew school funding formula framework released
Tennesseans for Quality Early Education issues statement on draft framework for the new education funding formula The Tennessee Department of Education released a draft framework for the new education funding formula on January 11, 2022. The public is invited to offer feedback on the framework by emailing tnedu.funding@tn.gov no later than Tuesday, January 18. Tennesseans…
» 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 More2021 Legislative Wrap Up
Big successes for early education, children and families this year! We had a very successful 2021 legislative session. Three legislative proposals were introduced on TQEE’s behalf, and we endorsed another six. Additionally, TQEE endorsed and advocated in support of the Governor’s legislative package presented in a special legislative session on education called by Governor Lee in January. A Strategic…
» 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…
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