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TQEE Appoints Nicole Smith Vice President of Communications
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE) has announced the appointment of Nicole Smith as vice president of communications. In this role, Smith will oversee strategic development and implementation of TQEE’s communications, public relations and marketing programs, as well as manage the organization’s brand as Tennessee’s leader in early education policy and advocacy. “We are thrilled to welcome Nicole to the
2021 Legislative Wrap Up
Big successes for early education, children and families this year! We had a very successful 2021 legislative session. Three legislative proposals were introduced on TQEE’s behalf, and we endorsed another six. Additionally, TQEE endorsed and advocated in support of the Governor’s legislative package presented in a special legislative session on education called by Governor Lee in January. A Strategic Reset of Tennessee’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program HB137/SB144 “Tennessee
New Report: TN PreK Quality Among Top 12 in Nation; But Access Still Lags
TDOE announced today that Tennessee's Voluntary PreK Program (TN-VPK) now meets 9 out of 10 quality standards benchmarks that evaluate the effectiveness of preschool education programs, according to The State of Preschool 2020 report issued by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). Tennessee is among only 12 states in the nation with this distinction, which comes as a result of successful
Happy Week-of-the-Young-Child!
Happy week of the young child everyone! The Week of the Young Child® is an annual celebration sponsored by the the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) 50 years ago to celebrate children 0-8 and their families. Watch this clip with Tabatha Rosproy, who was named Teacher of the Year in 2020 and was the first-ever early childhood teacher to
Governor Lee’s Education Bill Package is a Strong Start for Tackling TN’s Early Learning Gap
TQEE actively supported the Lee administration’s education proposals during the special session as a strong and important start for addressing the literacy crisis and education-related challenges laid bare by the pandemic. With nearly two-thirds of Tennessee’s third graders not proficient in reading and math – a number that has likely worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic – improving early education is an
Agreed: $732+ million is WAY too much! Getting the TANF Reserve Amount Right
Half of all children ages 0 - 8 in Tennessee live in households with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level -- that's $51,853 annually for a family of two adults and two children. The United Ways of Tennessee ALICE report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) says a survival budget is $65,040 for that family of four, and also that pre-COVID, 47%
Special Legislative Session Called at a Crucial Time for Getting Early Education Right in Tennessee
Governor Bill Lee has called a special legislative session, beginning Tuesday, January 19th, to prioritize passing a suite of education bills related to sagging literacy, learning loss, assessment and accountability and salary increases for teachers and other educational staff. With two-thirds of Tennessee’s third graders not proficient in reading and math – a number that has likely worsened due to the COVID-19
TQEE Appoints Lee Harrell as VP, Advocacy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE) announces the appointment of Lee Harrell as Vice President of Advocacy. In this role, Harrell will direct TQEE’s state advocacy program, advancing state policies that ensure all Tennessee children birth through 3rd grade get the high-quality early education they need to power our state’s future. “We are thrilled to welcome Lee Harrell to our
New investment of TANF in evidence-based home visiting is a step in the right direction
TQEE has been among the state’s strongest advocates for expanding Evidence-Based Home Visiting (EBHV), a best practice in early childhood development which has repeatedly proven to strengthen parenting skills, reduce abuse and neglect, and get children ready for school. In addition to the well-documented positive impact on lives, the program generates savings for taxpayers up to $5.70 for every $1 invested through reduced
Home Visiting’s Powerful Human Stories
Take a step back from the compelling financial return on investment of evidence-based home visiting (EBHV) policy to study the true impact of this vital program through the lives of Tennessee children. While home visiting boasts a remarkable $5.70 positive return for every $1 investment, it’s most powerful performance measure is best viewed via the experiences of thousands of Tennessee children around