[vc_row row_content_width=”grid” parallax_background_image=”4451″][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=”no” title_tag=”h3″ disable_break_words=”yes” title=”TQEE Priority Policy Two” title_color=”#161616″ title_padding=”10px”][mkdf_section_title position=”” show_separator=”yes” separator_position=”left” title_tag=”h1″ disable_break_words=”yes” text_tag=”p” text_font_weight=”” title=”High Quality, Affordable Childcare” title_color=”#161616″ text=”85% of Tennesseans favor requiring the state-subsidized childcare vouchers to be used only for childcare providers that meet quality standards” text_color=”#161616″ text_font_size=”17″ text_line_height=”25″ title_padding=”10px” text_margin=”36px”][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_btn title=”View The Results Of Our Poll” style=”3d” color=”white” css=”.vc_custom_1573580734199{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: 40px !important;}” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Ftqee.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F11%2FPOS-Poll.pdf|||”][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][/mkdf_elements_holder][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_content_width=”grid”][vc_column width=”1/4″][mkdf_elements_holder holder_full_height=”yes” number_of_columns=”one-column” items_float_left=”yes” switch_to_one_column=”” alignment_one_column=””][mkdf_elements_holder_item][vc_empty_space height=”64px”][mkdf_icon_with_text type=”icon-top” icon_pack=”font_awesome” fa_icon=”fa fa-user” title_tag=”” title=”Engaged & Empowered Parents” bg_text=”01″ link=”https://tqee.org/active-and-engaged-parents/” title_color=”#15417e”][vc_empty_space height=”64px”][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][/mkdf_elements_holder][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][mkdf_elements_holder holder_full_height=”no” number_of_columns=”one-column” switch_to_one_column=”” alignment_one_column=””][mkdf_elements_holder_item][vc_empty_space height=”64px”][mkdf_icon_with_text type=”icon-top” icon_pack=”font_awesome” fa_icon=”fa fa-child” icon_animation=”yes” title_tag=”” title=”Quality Affordable Childcare” bg_text=”02″ title_color=”#c62027″ link=”https://tqee.org/quality-and-affordable-childcare/” icon_hover_color=”#c62027″][vc_empty_space height=”64px”][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][/mkdf_elements_holder][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][mkdf_elements_holder holder_full_height=”no” number_of_columns=”one-column” switch_to_one_column=”” alignment_one_column=””][mkdf_elements_holder_item][vc_empty_space height=”64px”][mkdf_icon_with_text type=”icon-top” icon_pack=”font_awesome” fa_icon=”fa fa-book” title_tag=”” title=”Excellent Early Grades Teaching” bg_text=”03″ title_color=”#15417e” link=”https://tqee.org/pre-k-to-3rd-grade/”][vc_empty_space height=”64px”][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][/mkdf_elements_holder][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][mkdf_elements_holder holder_full_height=”no” number_of_columns=”one-column” switch_to_one_column=”” alignment_one_column=””][mkdf_elements_holder_item][vc_empty_space height=”64px”][mkdf_icon_with_text type=”icon-top” icon_pack=”font_awesome” fa_icon=”fa fa-certificate” title_tag=”” title=”Strong Accountability Systems” bg_text=”04″ title_color=”#15417e” link=”https://tqee.org/strong-accountability/”][vc_empty_space height=”64px”][/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 width=”2/3″ 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=”High Quality, Affordable Childcare” title_break_words=”5″ title_padding=”10px”][vc_column_text]With nearly 300,000 children under age six in Tennessee having all available parents in the workforce, the vast majority of our state’s infants, toddlers and preschoolers are spending significant time in paid child care. For working parents, affordable child care enables them to be productive at work and maintain family economic stability. For children, depending on program quality, child care can either advance or impede early learning and, in turn, future education and workforce success.
The opportunity at hand, then, is to ensure child care settings are of sufficiently high quality to promote meaningful early learning. Especially for children from disadvantaged families who start falling behind their more advantaged peers as early as 6 months of age, high quality child care can be an early education game changer.
Regrettably, Tennessee’s current child care policies and public investment don’t support high quality. The good news is, there are unused and underutilized resources available, and demonstrated public returns on investment as high as $16 for every $1 spent on quality early care and education. The time and price are right for Tennessee to re-imagine its child care system as a cost-effective early education strategy.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”64px”][mkdf_section_title position=”” show_separator=”yes” separator_position=”left” title_tag=”h3″ disable_break_words=”yes” title=”Our priorities for improving childcare quality and affordability:” title_break_words=”5″ title_padding=”10px”][vc_column_text]TQEE recommends a full examination and restructuring of Tennessee’s childcare system to provide more high quality, affordable and accessible options for Tennessee’s working families.
Considerations include:
- Establishing high standards for quality teaching and learning, with a focus on learning outcomes;
- Improving strategies for training/education, recruitment, retention and professional development of high quality teachers;
- Adjusting state reimbursement rates so they adequately cover the costs of quality; and
- Maximizing state and federal childcare funding streams so more low-income working families can send their children to high quality childcare.
[/vc_column_text][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][/mkdf_elements_holder][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-4 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-12 vc_col-sm-offset-0 vc_col-xs-12″ el_class=”mkdf-eh-single-image-hover”][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=”15px 0 0 0″ item_padding_1367_1600=”15px 0 0 0″ item_padding_1025_1366=”15px 0 0 0″ item_padding_769_1024=”53px 0 0 0″ item_padding_681_768=”53px 0 0 0″ item_padding_680=”53px 0 0 0″][mkdf_single_image enable_image_shadow=”no” image_behavior=”custom-link” image=”4327″ image_size=”full” custom_link=”https://votestart.mikado-themes.com/the-texas-senators-aides-have-been-finished/”][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][/mkdf_elements_holder][mkdf_elements_holder holder_full_height=”no” number_of_columns=”one-column” switch_to_one_column=”” alignment_one_column=”” background_color=”#0431b8″ background_text=”For Us” background_font_size=”154px” background_text_color=”#0938c6″ background_top_position=”3px” background_left_position=”-18px” background_right_position=”-63px”][mkdf_elements_holder_item item_padding=”11px 45px 37px 45px” item_padding_1367_1600=”11px 45px 37px 45px” item_padding_1025_1366=”11px 30px 37px 30px” item_padding_769_1024=”11px 415px 37px 45px” item_padding_681_768=”11px 235px 37px 45px” item_padding_680=”11px 35px 37px 25px”][vc_column_text]
Policy Priorities Summary
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”3px”][vc_column_text]DOWNLOAD NOW[/vc_column_text][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][/mkdf_elements_holder][vc_empty_space height=”18px”][vc_column_text]
OUR PRIORITIES
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][mkdf_icon_with_text type=”icon-left” icon_pack=”font_elegant” fe_icon=”arrow_right” title_tag=”h5″ title=”Engaged & Empowered Parents” custom_icon_size=”18px” icon_color=”#0431b8″ icon_hover_color=”#0431b8″ title_color=”#333333″ text_padding=”5px 0 10px 13px” link=”https://tqee.org/active-and-engaged-parents/”][mkdf_icon_with_text type=”icon-left” icon_pack=”font_elegant” fe_icon=”arrow_right” title_tag=”h5″ title=”Pre-K to 3rd Grade” custom_icon_size=”18px” icon_color=”#0431b8″ icon_hover_color=”#0431b8″ title_color=”#333333″ text_padding=”5px 0 10px 13px” link=”https://tqee.org/pre-k-to-3rd-grade/”][mkdf_icon_with_text type=”icon-left” icon_pack=”font_elegant” fe_icon=”arrow_right” title_tag=”h5″ title=”Quality & Affordable Childcare” custom_icon_size=”18px” icon_color=”#0431b8″ icon_hover_color=”#0431b8″ title_color=”#333333″ text_padding=”5px 0 10px 13px” link=”https://tqee.org/quality-and-affordable-childcare/”][mkdf_icon_with_text type=”icon-left” icon_pack=”font_elegant” fe_icon=”arrow_right” title_tag=”h5″ title=”Strong Accountability” custom_icon_size=”18px” icon_color=”#0431b8″ icon_hover_color=”#0431b8″ title_color=”#333333″ text_padding=”5px 0 10px 13px” link=”https://tqee.org/strong-accountability/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1572625978756{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″][mkdf_banner hover_behavior=”mkdf-visible-on-default” info_position=”default” subtitle_tag=”h2″ title_tag=”h4″ image=”4171″ title=”A child’s brain develops more in the first 5 years than any other time in their life” title_color=”#ffffff” info_content_padding=”0 16%” subtitle=”Did You Know?”][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” subtitle_tag=”” title_tag=”h4″ image=”4170″ title=”#MyEarlyEducation to support the Tennesseens for Quality Early Education” title_color=”#ffffff” info_content_padding=”0 16%” subtitle=”Join The Conversation”][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″][vc_single_image image=”4416″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_content_width=”grid” content_text_aligment=”left” css=”.vc_custom_1572381315243{margin-top: 150px !important;margin-bottom: 150px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_empty_space][mkdf_icon_with_text type=”icon-top” icon_pack=”font_awesome” fa_icon=”fa fa-download” title_tag=”h2″ title=”Policy Agenda” bg_text=”2019″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][mkdf_section_title position=”left” show_separator=”no” title_tag=”h3″ disable_break_words=”no” text_tag=”” text_font_weight=”” text=”Legislative Priorities and Wins in the Tennessee General Assembly!” title=”Download TQEE’s 2019 Policy Agenda” text_font_size=”18″][vc_empty_space height=”74px”][mkdf_elements_holder holder_full_height=”no” number_of_columns=”one-column” switch_to_one_column=”” alignment_one_column=”” background_color=”#0431b8″ background_text=”For Us” background_font_size=”154px” background_text_color=”#0938c6″ background_top_position=”3px” background_left_position=”-18px” background_right_position=”-63px”][mkdf_elements_holder_item item_padding=”11px 45px 37px 45px” item_padding_1367_1600=”11px 45px 37px 45px” item_padding_1025_1366=”11px 30px 37px 30px” item_padding_769_1024=”11px 415px 37px 45px” item_padding_681_768=”11px 235px 37px 45px” item_padding_680=”11px 35px 37px 25px”][vc_column_text]
Policy Agenda
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”3px”][vc_column_text]DOWNLOAD NOW[/vc_column_text][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][/mkdf_elements_holder][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”4338″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_3d”][/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” shape=”square” color=”danger” align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1573097720234{margin-top: -25px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1573098450562{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]
We develop sound, evidence-based policy that strengthens early learning.
[/vc_column_text][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″][vc_single_image image=”4423″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_circle_2″][vc_btn title=”A STRONG VOICE” shape=”square” color=”danger” align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1573097806281{margin-top: -25px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1573098503573{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][/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” shape=”square” color=”danger” align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1573097824134{margin-top: -25px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1573098509975{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][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1573099502445{margin-top: 150px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4344″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1572321456299{margin-top: 75px !important;border-bottom-width: 75px !important;}”][vc_column][mkdf_section_title position=”center” show_separator=”yes” separator_position=”center” title_tag=”” disable_break_words=”no” text_tag=”” text_font_weight=”600″ title=”Supported By Leaders You Trust” text=”The efforts of TQEE are supported by industry professionals,
families & thought leaders in Tennessee.” text_font_size=”16px”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_content_width=”grid” css=”.vc_custom_1572629295754{border-bottom-width: 125px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][mkdf_team type=”info-below-image” team_name_tag=”” team_social_icon_pack=”font_elegant” team_social_fe_icon_1=”social_linkedin” team_image=”4339″ team_name=”Beth Rhinehart” team_position=”CEO, BRISTOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE” team_social_icon_1_link=”https://www.linkedin.com”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][mkdf_team type=”info-below-image” team_name_tag=”” team_social_icon_pack=”” team_image=”4341″ team_name=”Rev. Kenneth Robinson, MD” team_position=”CEO UNITED WAY OF MID-SOUTH”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][mkdf_team type=”info-below-image” team_name_tag=”” team_social_icon_pack=”” team_image=”4340″ team_name=”Candice McQueen” team_position=”TN COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][mkdf_team type=”info-below-image” team_name_tag=”” team_social_icon_pack=”” team_image=”4343″ team_name=”Michael Rallings” team_position=”DIRECTOR OF POLICE SERVICES, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_text_aligment=”center” simple_background_color=”#002aa7″][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1552046703870{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-6 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=”” background_text=”act” background_font_size=”264px” background_text_color=”#002aa7″ background_top_position=”215px” background_right_position=”0px” background_bottom_position=”0px” background_left_position=”531px” background_color=”#0431b8″][mkdf_elements_holder_item item_padding=”96px 10px 109px” item_padding_1367_1600=”96px 10px 109px” item_padding_1025_1366=”96px 10px 109px” item_padding_769_1024=”96px 10px 109px” item_padding_681_768=”96px 10px 109px” item_padding_680=”96px 10px 109px”][mkdf_section_title position=”center” show_separator=”yes” separator_position=”center” title_tag=”h2″ disable_break_words=”no” text_tag=”p” text_font_weight=”” title=”Join the Coalition” title_color=”#ffffff” text=”Join our cause to help support our children’s future.” text_color=”#ffffff” title_padding=”13px” text_margin=”36px”][vc_empty_space height=”33px”][mkdf_icon_with_text type=”icon-left” icon_pack=”font_elegant” fe_icon=”icon_headphones” icon_size=”mkdf-icon-small” title_tag=”h4″ title=”901.331.0153″ custom_icon_size=”22px” icon_color=”#ffffff” icon_hover_color=”#ffffff” title_color=”#ffffff” title_top_margin=”3px”][vc_column_text]Support Our Cause[/vc_column_text][/mkdf_elements_holder_item][/mkdf_elements_holder][/vc_column][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1552046774852{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-6 vc_col-sm-offset-0 vc_col-xs-12″][mkdf_donation donation_type=”text-only” title_tag=”h2″ title=”Support Us Now” title_color=”#ffffff” example_1=”$10″ example_2=”$25″ example_3=”$50″ example_4=”$100″ bg_color=”#16478c” bg_text=”donate” bg_text_color=”#0431b8″ bg_text_size=”264px” button_text=”Donate” custom_link=”https://votestart.mikado-themes.com/donation-list/” text=”Invest in our children’s future.” text_color=”#ffffff” bg_text_margin=”260px 0px 0px 196px”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
