[vc_row row_content_width=”grid” parallax_background_image=”4455″][vc_column][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=”190px 59% 204px 0px” item_padding_1367_1600=”147px 61% 157px 0px” item_padding_1025_1366=”119px 54% 132px 0px” item_padding_769_1024=”119px 35% 132px 0px” item_padding_681_768=”119px 17% 132px 0px” item_padding_680=”119px 0% 132px 0px”][mkdf_section_title position=”” show_separator=”yes” separator_position=”left” title_tag=”h1″ disable_break_words=”yes” text_tag=”p” text_font_weight=”” title=”History” title_color=”#000000″ text=”Learn more about Tennesseans for Quality Early Education” text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”17″ text_line_height=”25″ title_padding=”10px” text_margin=”36px”][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][/mkdf_elements_holder][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_content_width=”grid” disable_background_image=”” simple_background_image=”317″ css=”.vc_custom_1552043514234{padding-top: 105px !important;padding-bottom: 120px !important;}”][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-8 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-12 vc_col-sm-offset-0 vc_col-xs-12″][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1552038378011{padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”][vc_column_inner][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=”0px 170px 0px 0px” item_padding_1367_1600=”0px 170px 0px 0px” item_padding_1025_1366=”0px 40px 0px 0px” item_padding_769_1024=”0px 90px 0px 0px” item_padding_681_768=”0px 0px 0px 0px” item_padding_680=”0px 0px 0px 0px”][mkdf_section_title position=”” show_separator=”yes” separator_position=”left” title_tag=”h2″ disable_break_words=”yes” title=”Tennesseans for Quality Early Education” title_break_words=”5″ title_padding=”10px”][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][/mkdf_elements_holder][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1570666402131{margin-bottom: -50px !important;}”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]TQEE was formed in 2015 in response to a Vanderbilt University Peabody Research Institute study of Tennessee’s Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) program. The research demonstrated:[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”5px”][mkdf_icon_with_text type=”icon-left” icon_pack=”font_elegant” fe_icon=”arrow_triangle-right” title_tag=”span” title=”Children who attended the state’s voluntary pre-k program were better prepared for kindergarten, though pre-k classroom quality was inconsistent across the state.” custom_icon_size=”18px” icon_color=”#0431b8″ icon_hover_color=”#0431b8″ title_color=”#333333″ text_padding=”5px 0 10px 13px”][vc_empty_space height=”5px”][mkdf_icon_with_text type=”icon-left” icon_pack=”font_elegant” fe_icon=”arrow_triangle-right” title_tag=”span” title=”Children who did not attend the state’s voluntary pre-k caught up with pre-k children by the end of kindergarten.” custom_icon_size=”18px” icon_color=”#0431b8″ icon_hover_color=”#0431b8″ title_color=”#333333″ text_padding=”5px 0 10px 13px”][vc_empty_space height=”5px”][mkdf_icon_with_text type=”icon-left” icon_pack=”font_elegant” fe_icon=”arrow_triangle-right” title_tag=”span” title=”Both groups’ of children’s academic achievement declined in grades 2 and 3.” custom_icon_size=”18px” icon_color=”#0431b8″ icon_hover_color=”#0431b8″ title_color=”#333333″ text_padding=”5px 0 10px 13px”][vc_column_text]
The study did not examine K-3 factors that might have resulted in pre-k gains being unsustainable, but the researchers have said: “It is doubtful that anything done in pre-k can have sustained effects if the gains made there are not supported and extended in the schooling that follows.”
The findings were a catalyst for the formation of TQEE by Blair Taylor, who gathered early education advocates from across the state, making the case for a new state focus on strengthening quality — of the VPK program as well as of K-3rd grade to “sustain the gains.”
TQEE’s work was launched with the PreK Quality Act of 2016. With a convincing argument, TQEE won the support of Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis) and Senator Steve Dickerson (R-Nashville) to sponsor and draft the Pre-K Quality Act, which revised the Voluntary Pre-K for Tennessee Act of 2005 to ensure that programs are high-quality and coordinated with elementary education beyond the Pre-K level. It was enacted with near unanimous support of the legislature.
The Act was a positive step toward instilling quality and consistency in VPK classrooms across the state. And since then, the Tennessee Department of Education has made significant progress in strengthening the program. But the work must both continue and expand to include improvements to K-3rd grade. Moreover, Tennessee must also give new focus to the years before Pre-K, during which disadvantaged children start falling behind beginning at birth.
Today, TQEE has grown to include a large coalition and a robust policy agenda which reflects the importance of the full birth through third grade continuum in preparing children for future academic success. And our work has only just begun…
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/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″ btn_color=”yes” image=”4463″ title=”Donate Now” title_color=”#ffffff” link=”/donate” link_text=”Donate Monthly” 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″ btn_color=”yes” 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 background_image=”4461″ 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%”][vc_column_text]
Join the Coalition
Join the 20,000 coalition members helping us build a better future
[/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][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_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 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″][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_1578544427294{margin-top: -25px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1578543186834{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]
We develop sound, evidence-based policy that strengthens early learning.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”64px”][/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″][vc_single_image image=”4423″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_circle_2″][vc_btn title=”A STRONG VOICE” style=”custom” custom_background=”#c52026″ custom_text=”#ffffff” shape=”square” align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1578544440456{margin-top: -25px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1578543298807{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]
We amplify the voices of early education advocates from across the state.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”64px”][/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″][vc_single_image image=”4414″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_circle_2″][vc_btn title=”2020 ELECTIONS” style=”custom” custom_background=”#c52026″ custom_text=”#ffffff” shape=”square” align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1578544452167{margin-top: -25px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1578544359822{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]
We help elect pro-early education candidates for the state legislature.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”64px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_text_aligment=”center”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1577941330816{background-color: #c52026 !important;}”][mkdf_section_title position=”” show_separator=”no” title_tag=”h4″ disable_break_words=”no” title=”#MyEarlyEducation to support Tennesseans for Quality Early Education” title_color=”#ffffff”][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][mkdf_single_image enable_image_shadow=”no” image=”4471″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1577948801959{background-color: #12416b !important;}”][mkdf_section_title position=”” show_separator=”no” title_tag=”h4″ disable_break_words=”no” title=”A teen babysitter makes over $13 per hour, but the average trained child care worker makes less than $10.” title_color=”#ffffff”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
