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Statement on Tennessee’s gains in third grade reading
Following the release of statewide third grade reading test scores by the Tennessee Department of Education, Tennesseans for Quality Early Education issues the following statement: “We are glad to see that Tennessee students made historic gains in third grade reading scores this year. The 40 percent proficiency rate marks a 4.3 percentage point increase from the previous year, and the largest percentage
2023 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, child physical and mental health and development,
Serve & Return: How Child Development Starts at Home
Before children are old enough to walk or talk, their brains are being wired in ways that will impact how they learn later in life. Parent-child interactions serve as the earliest building blocks for physical, cognitive, and emotional development, particularly during early childhood. Parents can support the development of their children by actively participating in attentive and reciprocal exchanges. These exchanges
Reading 360: Tackling Tennessee’s Literacy Crisis
What is Reading 360? Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, only a third of Tennessee’s 3rd graders were reading on grade level. To help tackle this crisis, the Tennessee Department of Education dedicated $100 million to an initiative called “Reading 360” to help school districts, teachers and families help struggling Tennessee students learn to read. Read more about it in The Tennessean. Reading 360 is
Ongoing child care crisis costs Tennessee $2.6 billion annually
New report details adverse economic impact on parents, businesses and taxpayers Prior to the pandemic, child care was a growing crisis for families and our economy. Fast forward to today, Tennessee’s working parents of young children continue to struggle to find and afford child care. For Tennessee employers the situation is likewise acute, with the child care crisis exacerbating the state’s workforce
TQEE responds to 2022 Nation’s Report Card
Following the release of the 2022 Nation’s Report Card by the National Center of Educational Progress (NAEP), which showed declines in student achievement nationwide and in Tennessee, Tennesseans for Quality Early Education issues the following statement from President and CEO Blair Taylor: “The 2022 Nation’s Report Card unfortunately highlights what we already knew – the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on
TQEE Appoints Rebecca Lofty Woods VP of Government Relations
Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE) has announced the appointment of Rebecca Lofty Woods as vice president of government relations. In this role, Woods will serve as the organization’s chief lobbyist and work closely with Tennessee state legislators to help advance policies that support Tennessee children and their families. “We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca to the TQEE senior leadership team,” said Blair
Top family costumes for Halloween and beyond
Halloween offers a perfect opportunity for parents and caregivers to engage with children in imaginative play. That’s why we’ve thoughtfully compiled a list of costumes for your family to try this Halloween (or any time of year, for that matter)! These picks include something for everyone and can be adapted based on the size and makeup of your family.
TN Child Care Task Force Seeks Feedback
The state of Tennessee is seeking public feedback on the Tennessee Child Care Task Force’s Interim Progress Report. In particular, they are soliciting input on child care access, affordability, quality and governance/regulation. Public comments will be accepted via a survey submission form until 4:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, August 31, 2022. Responses will help inform the work of the Tennessee Child Care Task
TQEE helps launch Loud Voices for Little Kids
Tennesseans for Quality Early Education is excited to join forces with partners across the state to launch Loud Voices for Little Kids – a campaign driven by advocacy groups, nonprofit organizations, early educators, business leaders, parents and concerned citizens dedicated to advancing children’s success in the early years. The campaign aims to educate Tennesseans about early care and education policy priorities,
