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Early Education Archive

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Tennessee is facing a threat to the future growth and prosperity of our state.

Nearly two-thirds of Tennessee’s 3rd-grade public school children aren’t proficient in reading and math.
[1] Yet 3rd grade is a critical benchmark year for future academic success.  Like bricks and mortar in a house, learning is layered on top of prior learning. If the foundation is weak, later achievement will falter. That’s what’s happening in Tennessee.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Deficits in early literacy and math begin well before kindergarten with skill gaps widening along family income lines from as early as 9 months of age and growing exponentially by 24 months. [3] [4]

Research has clearly demonstrated that early literacy and math skills as well as early workforce skills (such as cooperation and paying attention) at kindergarten entry predict future academic success. [3] [5] [6]

Early brain development plays a critical role.

In the first 3 years of life, a child’s brain is the most impressionable, forming one million new neural connections every second to create the “wiring” that becomes the foundation upon which all later learning is built. [7]

Adult responsiveness is the key driver of young child brain development. When an infant or young child babbles, gestures, or cries, and an adult responds appropriately with eye contact, words, or a hug, neural connections are built and strengthened in the child’s brain. This is known as “serve and return” interaction and is critical for early brain growth.  But children who face adversity, like poverty, often don’t get appropriate adult responsiveness. In these cases the developing brain is disrupted, and the child is at far greater risk for subsequent physical, cognitive and emotional impairment. [8]

How does Tennessee address the early learning gaps?

TQEE is committed to effective policy that improves and expands access to quality early education programs — broadly defined as education programs that serve children from birth through third grade.  For young children, the reality is that every environment — whether home, preschool, childcare or elementary school — is a learning environment.  They key is that whatever the context, children are getting the emotional and cognitive development and critical foundation necessary for success in school and life.

For young children, the reality is that every environment — whether home, preschool, childcare or elementary school — is a learning environment. They key is that whatever the context, children are getting the emotional and cognitive development and critical foundation necessary for success in school and life.

Tennessee can make a giant leap forward in early education outcomes by choosing policies that:

READ MORE about TQEE policy solutions.

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”84px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_content_width=”grid”][vc_column width=”2/3″][mkdf_section_title position=”” show_separator=”yes” separator_position=”left” title_tag=”” disable_break_words=”no” title=”Investment in the Early Years Pay Big Dividends”][vc_column_text]Investment in the earliest years of human development establishes a set of skills and abilities that raises the productivity of all subsequent human capital investments. Returns are highest for investments made at younger ages, while remedial investments are often prohibitively costly.
[9][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”4743″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row parallax=”content-moving” parallax_image=”4486″ row_content_width=”grid” parallax_background_image=”4704″][vc_column][mkdf_section_title position=”” show_separator=”no” title_tag=”” disable_break_words=”no” title=”Early Deficits Begin Well Before Kindergarten” title_color=”#ffffff”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mkdf_elements_holder holder_full_height=”no” number_of_columns=”two-columns” separation_of_two_columns=”” switch_to_one_column=”” alignment_one_column=””][mkdf_elements_holder_item][mkdf_testimonials type=”standard” skin=”” slider_loop=”yes” slider_autoplay=”yes” slider_navigation=”yes” slider_pagination=”yes” category=”leaders-we-trust”][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][mkdf_elements_holder_item background_image=”4320″][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][/mkdf_elements_holder][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1578607900375{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1559288374682{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-4 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-6 vc_col-sm-offset-0 vc_col-xs-12″][mkdf_banner hover_behavior=”mkdf-visible-on-default” info_position=”default” title_tag=”h3″ target=”_blank” image=”4463″ title=”Support TQEE” title_color=”#ffffff” link=”https://secure.givelively.org/donate/tennesseans-for-quality-early-education-policy-and-research” link_text=”Donate Now” link_color=”#ffffff” info_content_padding=”0 16%”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1559288370914{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-4 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-6 vc_col-sm-offset-0 vc_col-xs-12″][mkdf_banner hover_behavior=”mkdf-visible-on-default” info_position=”default” title_tag=”h3″ image=”4462″ title=”Get the Child Care Study” title_color=”#ffffff” link=”/2019-child-care-crisis” link_text=”Get My Study” link_color=”#ffffff” info_content_padding=”0 16%”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1570487700031{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-4 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-6 vc_col-sm-offset-0 vc_col-xs-12″][mkdf_elements_holder holder_full_height=”no” number_of_columns=”one-column” switch_to_one_column=”” alignment_one_column=””][mkdf_elements_holder_item item_padding_1367_1600=”10px 45px” item_padding_1025_1366=”2px 30px 2px 30px” item_padding_769_1024=”25px 79px 25px 79px” item_padding_681_768=”58px 295px 58px 124px” item_padding_680=”0px 45px 65px” item_padding_1367_1680=”10px 20px” item_padding=”6% 12% 11%” background_color=”#12416b”][vc_column_text]

Join 21,671 TQEE Coalition Members

and support early education in Tennessee

[/vc_column_text][contact-form-7 id=”4446″ html_class=”cf7_custom_style_3″][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][/mkdf_elements_holder][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” row_content_width=”grid” css=”.vc_custom_1573098379542{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;}” el_class=”custom-height”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][mkdf_section_title position=”center” show_separator=”yes” separator_position=”center” title_tag=”” disable_break_words=”no” text_tag=”” text_font_weight=”” title=”Together, We Are Making A Difference” text=”We’re proud to champion quality early childhood education for our great state of Tennessee, and with your help we’re accelerating progress.” text_font_size=”18px”][vc_empty_space height=”75px”][/vc_column][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-4 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-6 vc_col-sm-offset-0 vc_col-xs-12″][vc_single_image image=”4413″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_circle_2″][vc_btn title=”EFFECTIVE POLICY” style=”custom” custom_background=”#c52026″ custom_text=”#ffffff” shape=”square” align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1580360522768{margin-top: -25px !important;}” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Ftqee.org%2Fpolicy-blueprint%2F|title:Policy%20Blueprint||”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1580419416157{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]

We develop sound, evidence-based policy that strengthens early learning.

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We amplify the voices of early education advocates from across the state.

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We help elect pro-early education candidates for the state legislature.

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Become a Loud Voice for Little Kids

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