To help Tennessee parents serving essential workforce roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Human Services (TDHS) has established payment assistance and network of temporary care locations to make child care services free during the state’s emergency order. Tennessee workers in essential jobs – including first responders, food service, law enforcement, health care military…
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Funds Now Available through TN Dept. of Human Services for affected persons and child care businesses
The Tennessee Department of Human Services announced the availability of funding for COVID-19 affected persons and child care businesses. Cash Assistance for People: The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is making essential financial resources available to families that have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 emergency. Beginning 10 A.M. CST Thursday, March 26, families…
» Read MoreLawmakers Respond to COVID-19 with Extraordinary Recess
On March 19th, the Legislature met its constitutional duty and passed an emergency state budget. Following the 14-hour session, lawmakers recessed until a time uncertain leaving much unfinished business. Among the early education legislation not considered are bills about pre-k expansion, child care, unspent TANF funds and most notably Governor Lee’s $68 million early literacy…
» Read MoreEarly Childhood Advocates Rock State Capitol
We came. We saw. We did a lot of good for Tennessee kids. On February 19th, TQEE advocates from across the state joined together to stand for policies to increase the number of high-quality, affordable childcare seats, expand Pre-K and improve early literacy proficiency, to name a few. As Mayor Julian McTizic of Bolivar put…
» Read MoreTennesseans believe early education is key to ‘right track’ for public education
New poll of Tennessee voters shows overwhelming support for policy proposals to improve early learning outcomes birth to third grade. In the current partisan environment, Tennessee Republicans and Democrats often agree on very little. But when it comes to education, they’re strongly united in the view that the state’s public education system is on the…
» Read More$1 Billion and Change
How could this be? Why didn’t Tennessee policymakers know? What should we do with all this money? Those are questions being asked in response to a recent report issued by the Beacon Center, a conservative Tennessee think tank. In October Beacon reported that Tennessee has amassed a $732 million surplus reserve of federal TANF (Temporary…
» Read MoreTQEE Day on the Hill 2020
It’s that time of year again! Time, that is, to take our case for kids to the Hill, and we’re doing it on Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Mark your calendars to join us and RSVP here now! Your support at TQEE Day on the Hill 2019 made a big difference for Tennessee’s young children!! Because…
» Read MoreChild Care Report News and Press
Our child care report series has garnered a lot of great press across the state, with more to come! We’re keeping track of it all here so it’s easy to find for our coalition members. Murfreesboro’s Daily News Journal: https://www.dnj.com/story/news/2019/09/14/childcare-tennessee-workforce-child-care-needs-cost-revenue-families/2266422001/ Clarksville’s The Leaf Chronicle: https://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/news/2019/09/14/childcare-tennessee-workforce-child-care-needs-cost-revenue-families/2266422001/ Jackson Sun: https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/2019/09/14/childcare-tennessee-workforce-child-care-needs-cost-revenue-families/2266422001/ Nashville’s Tennessean: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2019/09/14/childcare-tennessee-workforce-child-care-needs-cost-revenue-families/2266422001/ Knoxville News Sentinel: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2019/09/18/affordable-child-care-knoxville-tennessee/2354266001/…
» Read MorePress Release: Child Care Report Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 17, 2019 Contact: Mike CarpenterTQEE (901) 331-0153 Unworkable child care system has annual $1.34B adverse impact on TN Business orgs across the state advocate priority action to address system dysfunction MEMPHIS, Tenn. – When Tennessee’s working families cannot access the child care services they need, there are significant economic consequences for parents,…
» Read MoreTQEE Reacts to TNReady Release
The following statement is issued today by Mike Carpenter, executive director, Tennesseans for Quality Early Education, in response to release of TNReady 2018-19 data: “Improvement of student performance is good news for Tennessee – it demonstrates that the tireless efforts of teachers, leaders, and students is moving the needle in the right direction. We applaud…
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