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 MoreCategory Archives: On the Hill
2025 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 2023-2024 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…
» Read More2024 TCAP Scores are IN!
There’s progress on 3rd grade reading and math proficiency, but still a long way to go. TQEE’s north star is 3rd grade reading and math proficiency. That’s because it’s a well-documented and crucial benchmark for future academic and life success. Children who are not proficient in reading and math by the end of third grade…
» Read More2024 Legislative Wrap Up
2024 Legislative Wrap Up Each year from January through April or May when the Tennessee General Assembly holds its legislative session TQEE advocates for a set of legislative and budget proposals that would have a meaningful impact on one or more of the priorities outlined in our Policy Blueprint. This year, we supported a number of…
» Read MoreTeachers, Families and Businesses Win with New Paid Family Leave Policies
Celebrating New Paid Family Leave Policies in Tennessee: A Win for Families, Teachers, and Businesses Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE) is thrilled to celebrate the passage of groundbreaking legislation providing six weeks of paid family leave to state employees, including public educators, and introducing a new state tax credit to help businesses offer paid…
» 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 More