As parents, you can be the most powerful advocates for your children—and your voice matters now more than ever. Tennessee’s early childhood care and education system shapes the future of our youngest learners, but it requires fine tuning and investments by state govenrment to ensure every child has access to high-quality programs from birth through…
» Read MoreCategory Archives: On the Hill
Child Care in the 2025 Federal Tax Reconciliation Package
The final version of the 2025 tax reconciliation package (One Big Beautiful Bill Act – H.R.1) was signed into law on July 4th, 2025. The bill permanently improves three pieces of tax policy that help make child care more affordable for working families with young children. TQEE’s child care study: Workforce of Today and Tomorrow: The…
» Read MoreTennessee Kindergarten Readiness: Data Reveals Alarming Gaps
Are Tennessee’s Children Ready for Kindergarten? New Data from the Northeast Consortium Says “Not Yet” for Too Many What does it mean to be ready for kindergarten? In Tennessee, it means more than just knowing your ABCs or counting to ten. True readiness is about the whole child—socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively prepared to thrive…
» Read MoreTennessee Cuts Red Tape to Expand Access to Child Care
With child care in short supply across Tennessee—and the private market failing to meet rising demand—state lawmakers are finding new ways to foster industry growth, including tackling regulatory reform. A new law, public chapter 276, will cut some of the red tape that makes it difficult and expensive to open and operate child care programs,…
» Read More2025 Legislative Wrap-Up
Each year upon the convening of the Tennessee General Assembly, TQEE reviews the Governor’s budget and 1500+ bills filed by legislators. We determine which items are both aligned to our policy blueprint and can have a meaningful impact. On Tuesday, April 22, the 114th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned for the first year of the two-year…
» Read More2025 Budget and Legislative Priorities
Each year TQEE reviews the Governor’s budget and 1500+ bills filed by legislators. We determine which items are both aligned to our policy blueprint and can have a meaningful impact. Below are our budget and legislative priorities for the 2025 legislative session. Governor Bill Lee’s Proposed 2025-26 Budget Governor Bill Lee’s budget address presented Monday,…
» Read MoreKey committees to watch for early childhood legislation 2025
The Tennessee General Assembly reconvened on January 14, and among the top items of business were to hold leadership elections and announce committees and their chairs. Senate Education Committee Senate Finance Committee Senate Health Committee House Education Committee House Finance Committee House Health Committee With more than 1500 bills likely to be filed this year,…
» Read MoreChild Care Revolution in TN Industrial Park
In a groundbreaking move, the Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board (IDB) has leveraged innovative economic tools to address a critical workforce need: childcare. This initiative not only supports local businesses but also sets a precedent for how communities can tackle the intertwined challenges of economic development and early childhood education. The Industrial Park Childcare Solution…
» Read MoreTell legislators: Give kids a strong start!
School is back in session! The 2024-2025 TCAP scores revealed some gains, but Tennessee still has 60% of 3rd grade children behind in reading and math. This alarming statistic isn’t just a number—it represents thousands of Tennessee children who may well struggle to succeed for the duration of school and beyond. The key to turning…
» Read MoreTurn on the Subtitles!
The Subtitle Solution: How a Simple Switch Can Supercharge Childhood Literacy In a world where screens reign supreme, an unexpected hero has emerged in the quest to boost childhood literacy: subtitles. Yes, those often-overlooked lines of text at the bottom of the screen may just hold the key to unlocking a world of words for…
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