The Challenge Finding quality, affordable childcare for working parents – and especially for shift workers who often have non-traditional hours – can be a huge challenge that impacts both working families and the businesses that employ them. Across Tennessee, more than 80% of parents of young children report employment disruptions due to inadequate childcare, citing…
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Statement on Tennessee’s gains in third grade reading
Following the release of statewide third grade reading test scores by the Tennessee Department of Education, Tennesseans for Quality Early Education issues the following statement: “We are glad to see that Tennessee students made historic gains in third grade reading scores this year. The 40 percent proficiency rate marks a 4.3 percentage point increase from…
» Read More2023 Legislative Wrap Up
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,…
» Read MoreReading 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 MoreOngoing child care crisis costs Tennessee $2.6 billion annually
New report details adverse economic impact on parents, businesses and taxpayers Prior to the pandemic, child care was a growing crisis for families and our economy. Fast forward to today, Tennessee’s working parents of young children continue to struggle to find and afford child care. For Tennessee employers the situation is likewise acute, with the…
» Read MoreTQEE Appoints Rebecca Lofty Woods VP of Government Relations
Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE) has announced the appointment of Rebecca Lofty Woods as vice president of government relations. In this role, Woods will serve as the organization’s chief lobbyist and work closely with Tennessee state legislators to help advance policies that support Tennessee children and their families. “We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca…
» Read MoreStatement on child care reimbursement rate increase
Following the Tennessee Department of Human Services’ announcement that it has increased child care reimbursement rates by 20 percent for providers participating in the Child Care Certificate Program, Tennesseans for Quality Early Education issues the following statement from President and CEO Blair Taylor. “We applaud the Tennessee Department of Human Services for increasing child care…
» 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 MoreTennessee’s review of the state education funding formula
We’ll update this post and alert our coalition via social media as new information becomes available. So, check back periodically over the next several months and be sure you’re following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. How it started: On Oct. 8, Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn announced…
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