2023 State Policy Priorities
Each year from January through May or so, when the Tennessee General Assembly holds its legislative session, TQEE advocates for a set of policy proposals that support one or more of the priorities outlined in our Policy Blueprint.
The legislation (and in some cases administration-led policy changes) we support moves the ball down the field toward our No. 1 goal that all Tennessee’s student are proficient in reading and math by third grade.
Below are our priorities for 2023. We’ll have more specifics posted here soon, so stay tuned!
- Make high-quality early care and education more affordable for working families
- Grow and strengthen the early care and education workforce
- Increase the supply of high-quality, licensed early care and education providers for children birth through age 5
2022 Legislative Wrap-Up
Below are the successes from the 2022 legislative session.
The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act (TISA)
In the biggest win for Tennessee children this session, the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act (SB2396/HB2143) passed, updating the K – 12 public education funding model for the first time in 30 years. Alongside an additional $1 billion in funding for public education, TISA’s student-centered approach recognizes and supports the unique needs of each child. The inclusion of crucial investments in early education, Kindergarten through third grade, are especially noteworthy as we fight to improve Tennessee’s early education foundation and get more students reading at grade level by third grade. Additionally, TISA adds new funding for school nurses and counselors in the base for all students, and includes funding weights for students who are economically disadvantaged and/or have unique learning needs.
Momentum for Pre-K expansion
More than 2,050 advocates emailed nearly 14,000 letters to state policymakers and/or signed a petition in support of Pre-K expansion through SB2179/HB2201. Chambers of commerce from all corners of the state sent joint letters of support, while community leaders and parents also made their voices heard. Despite SB2179/HB2201 making it out of three education committees, ultimately it did not pass. But we are proud of the strong momentum we created together and are more committed than ever to continuing the fight to make Pre-K an option for more children and families.
Other Wins for Pre-K
Pre-K is now included in the state’s definition of elementary schools, thanks to the passage of SB2563/HB1890. The state definition now clarifies that “For purposes of federal funding, elementary schools are schools serving any combination of pre-kindergarten through grade six.” This change makes Pre-K spending eligible through some federal programs, leaving ultimate decisions to local educational agencies.
Through SB2595/HB2709 previously conflicting statutes regarding the eligibility of students who may attend Pre-K were clarified. The original conflicting statutes both required the Voluntary Pre-K program to first serve economically disadvantaged 4-year-olds, but they differed greatly on which kids may fill empty seats. One statute enabled an empty seat to be filled by any other 4-year-old while the other statute required districts to fill seats with students with at-risk factors or economically disadvantaged 3-year-olds. Thanks to the passage of this legislation, local education agencies now have the flexibility to determine which of these groups of students may fill the empty seats.
2021 Legislative Wrap-Up
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 Opportunity Act” was merged into HB into HB142/SB751 ultimately receiving unanimous support in the House (92-0) and in the Senate (32-0). It was signed into law on May 25, 2021 and became Public Chapter 515. Senator Bo Watson and Representative David Hawk filed legislation proposing the Tennessee Opportunity Act for a strategic reset of how Tennessee uses its federal TANF block grant, $730+ million of which was unused as of 2020. The key provisions of the bill which we championed will 1) establish a reserve not to exceed the state’s annual TANF block grant ($191 million), 2) ensure future funds other than the reserve are fully allocated and that funds are deployed in counties throughout the state proportionally to their share of children in poverty, and 3) invest $182 million of surplus funds in the planning, implementation and rigorous evaluation of seven evidence-based pilot initiatives across the state –all with the goal of strengthening family self-sufficiency and interrupting the cycle of poverty and government dependence.
Other provisions of the merged bill which were championed by DHS and the Governor’s office included increased penalties for fraudulently receiving TANF assistance, an optional alternative set of incentives and supports for individuals pursuing education advancement, and an increase to the monthly cash assistance grant. Negotiations resulted in adoption of the provisions of the Tennessee Opportunity Act into the Governor’s legislation in what was arguably a model for collaboration among the legislative, executive branches of government and the nonprofit community, producing one of the most consequential pieces of legislation this session.
TN Child Care Taskforce – Strengthening Tennessee’s Workforce of Today and Tomorrow
House Bill 598/Senate Bill 677 also received unanimous support in the House (91-0) and Senate (29-0) and was signed into law on May 18th and became Public Chapter 474. The legislation sponsored by Senator Becky Massey and Representative Patsy Hazlewood on behalf of TQEE establishes a 15-member taskforce charged with creating a strategic action plan that will better ensure Tennessee’s working families can access quality, affordable child care. The taskforce would be comprised of commissioners from various departments, two legislators, representatives from the business community, and providers of high-quality child care programs, and comes at a time when child care challenges for working parents, and their adverse impact on workforce productivity and Tennessee’s economy, are well documented and greatly exacerbated as a result of the pandemic. The Task Force offers a rare opportunity for Tennesseans to employ ingenuity and underutilized resources to simultaneously strengthen the workforce of today and the workforce of tomorrow.
Rightsizing the Nurse to Student Ratio in our Schools
House Bill 537/Senate Bill 581 was deferred to 2022. For nearly 30 years, the state’s funding formula for public schools has included a component for school nurses. Unfortunately, this formula only funds a school nurse for every 3,000 students in a school system. Senator Rusty Crowe and Representative David Hawk filed legislation this year on behalf of TQEE that would reduce this ratio to recognize the nationwide best practice of a school nurse for every 750 students. While most legislators are supportive of such a change, the cost of roughly $42 million was an insurmountable hurdle, and the legislation was deferred to next year. We have begun working on creative and cost-effective solutions to addressing school health and mental health and look forward to engaging stakeholders on this topic in the coming months.
Mental Health Trust Fund for Public Schools
House Bill 73/Senate Bill 739 received overwhelming bipartisan support House (84-1) and Senate (23-5). It was signed into law on May 27, 2021 and became Public Chapter 595. Governor Lee prioritized $250 million toward addressing the mental health challenges of Tennessee students which have been greatly exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this legislation, $25 million will be immediately available for mental health services, and a trust fund of $225 million will be established and overseen by a board comprised of the Secretary of State, the Treasurer, the Comptroller, and the Commissioner of Finance & Administration. Subject to the approval of this board, annual earnings on the fund would be available to school districts to contribute to mental health services for students. While earnings from the fund will be dwarfed by the need for counseling and other mental health services, the move is an important step in the right direction toward promoting mental health and removing barriers to learning for Tennessee’s school children.
Accessible, Responsive Government
House Bill 670/Senate Bill 807 received unanimous support in the House (91-0) and Senate (31-0), and it was signed into law on May 12th and became Public Chapter 406. Senator Jeff Yarbro and Representative Bob Freeman filed legislation this year to ensure that child care providers have access to regular, consistent communication with the Department of Human Services. Under the proposal, which was filed on behalf of the Tennessee Association for Children’s Early Education (TACEE), the DHS commissioner will designate a specific staff person to serve as a liaison to child care providers, community stakeholders, department child care staff, and partner agencies.
Enrollment-based Payments to Providers of Child Care Services
House Bill 996/Senate Bill 1105 was approved by both the House (87-0) and Senate (29-1) and was signed into law on May 18th and became Public Chapter 484. Recognizing the importance of stable revenues to the viability of child care providers, Senator Jeff Yarbro and Representative Harold Love filed legislation this year that would authorize the Department of Human Services to issue payments based on enrollment versus attendance. Enrollment-based payments remove the financial challenges that providers may experience with child absences, and they provide greater certainty and stability that providers need to remain solvent. This legislation reinforced a practice which the Department of Human Services began in 2019.
Cost-Based Reimbursement Rates and Provider Networks
House Bill 1509/Senate Bill 1104 received unanimous support in the House (90-0) and Senate (31-0). It was signed into law on May 4, 2021 and became Public Chapter 498. The state provides reimbursements to child care providers on behalf of low-income families. This year, Senator Jeff Yarbro and Representative Sam McKenzie filed legislation that would authorize the Department of Human Services to utilize an alternative methodology based on cost, rather than a market rate study, to calculate reimbursement rates. This proposal would also authorize DHS to take actions necessary to support the development of shared services alliances and family child care networks to improve the quality of child care, give providers access to innovative business resource platforms, and provide a means of cost savings to child care providers through economies of scale.
Use of Available State Facilities for Child Care
House Bill 1114/Senate Bill 22 passed both the House (89-0-1) and Senate (30-0), and it was signed into law on May 4th and became Public Chapter 238. Finding appropriate and affordable facilities is often a challenge for child care providers, and state government buildings often have unused spaces which could be dedicated to this purpose. Senator Sara Kyle and Representative Tom Leatherwood filed creative and common-sense legislation this year which will authorize a state agency to contract with a child care provider to offer child care services to the agency’s employees in the agency’s facilities, at no cost to government.
Governor Lee’s Literacy and Learning Loss Bill Package | SB7001/HB7003, SB7002/HB7004, SB7003/HB7002
It’s widely acknowledged that 3rd grade is a critical K-12 benchmark; and yet only one-third of Tennessee 3rd graders are proficient in reading. If a student is not proficient by third grade, they are four times more likely to drop out of high school and 60% less likely to pursue a post-secondary degree. As Tennessee data demonstrates, once students fall behind in third grade, they tend to stay behind, or fall further, in subsequent years. Low proficiency in third grade is a clear indication that the quality of children’s learning experiences leading up to 3rd grade requires significant improvements.
TQEE supported the passage Governor Lee’s package of literacy bills during the special legislative session on education. The bills establish a new phonics-based reading program to help boost literacy rates, allocate resources for tutoring, summer and afterschool programs to accelerate learning and address learning loss due to the pandemic, and ensure standardized tests are administered to ensure visibility into student progress while “holding harmless” educators, schools and students for test outcomes. Read more here.
