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Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K Study Policy Brief
In January 2022, researchers Dale Farran, Mark Lipsey, Kelley Durkin and Sarah Wiesen released the latest findings of a multi-year study following children who participated in Tennessee’s Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) program in 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. In sum, the study finds that early gains faded and the VPK children were doing worse than their control group peers by the end
Response to State of the State Address 2022
Tennesseans for Quality Early Education issues statement in response to Governor Bill Lee’s State of the State Address Following Governor Bill Lee’s State of the State Address on Monday, Jan. 31, Tennesseans for Quality Early Education issues the following statement from President and CEO Blair Taylor. “We applaud Governor Bill Lee for prioritizing the needs of Tennessee’s children by budgeting an additional recurring
Virtual Town Hall Summary Report
The Tennessee Education Funding Review and What it Means for Early Education: A virtual town hall with Commissioner Penny Schwinn Event overview On January 6, 2022, Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE) hosted a virtual town hall about the Tennessee public education funding review and what it means for early education. More than 120 early learning advocates joined the meeting live to hear from
New school funding formula framework released
Tennesseans for Quality Early Education issues statement on draft framework for the new education funding formula The Tennessee Department of Education released a draft framework for the new education funding formula on January 11, 2022. The public is invited to offer feedback on the framework by emailing tnedu.funding@tn.gov no later than Tuesday, January 18. Tennesseans for Quality Early Education President and CEO Blair
Together, we achieved big wins for little kids in 2021
As 2021 comes to a close, we extend our sincere gratitude to partners like you who help ensure Tennessee’s youngest learners get the brightest start possible. It is important to say that we don’t accomplish anything alone. From a successful legislative session to the launch of the Bright Start Tennessee Network (and everything in between), 2021 has been a year of
A happy new year is on the horizon for Tennessee families
It’s well documented that Tennessee families are struggling to find quality child care and preschool, and most can’t afford it when they find it. As a result, many parents are reducing work hours or opting out of work altogether. In turn, businesses across the state are struggling to fill jobs and economic growth is significantly dampened as a result. Moreover, the lack
Tennessee’s review of the state education funding formula
We’ll update this post and alert our coalition via social media as new information becomes available. So, check back periodically over the next several months and be sure you’re following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. How it started: On Oct. 8, Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn announced that the state will do a
Blair Taylor appointed to Tennessee Child Care Task Force
Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE) President and CEO Blair Taylor has been appointed to serve on the Tennessee Child Care Task Force – a 15-member body charged with developing a strategic plan that will better ensure Tennessee’s working families can access quality, affordable child care. Taylor was appointed in her capacity as president of Memphis Tomorrow, an association of CEOs
TQEE launches Bright Start TN
Tennesseans for Quality Early Education launches Bright Start Tennessee Network to accelerate early learning outcomes statewide Six inaugural community partnerships selected to design and implement evidence-based early success plans Nashville, Tenn. – Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE) announced today that it has launched the Bright Start Tennessee Network (Bright Start TN) – a new statewide initiative of TQEE to accelerate early learning outcomes and
TQEE releases 2021 early education poll results
Voters believe COVID-19 is biggest problem facing Tennessee’s Pre-K – third grade classrooms; Vast majority worried children have fallen behindNew poll results show overwhelming support for increased investments in early education Tennessee voters believe the COVID-19 pandemic is the most important problem facing Tennessee’s Pre-K through third grade classrooms, and 79 percent are worried that too many school children fell behind in
