State Profiles

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Oregon	Pennsylvania	South Carolina	Tennessee
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Washington DC	West Virginia	Wisconsin

1998		Tennessee’s pre-k pilot program begins as an effort to target pre-k education to at-risk children across Tennessee. The program receives national recognition and is highly praised in the communities it serves.
2003		The state adopts legislation to create a lottery.
2004		The General Assembly includes early childhood education as a potential recipient of excess lottery funds.
2005		In February, Governor Phil Bredesen announces a bold new proposal that would more than double the number of pre-k classrooms funded by the state. The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce passes a resolution in support of Bredesen’s pre-k proposal, and Sen. James Kyle and Rep. Kim McMillan introduce the "Voluntary Pre-K for Tennessee Act of 2005" (SB 2317 and HB 2333) shortly thereafter. The Tennessee Alliance for Early Education is formed to support this legislation, and succeeds in securing swift passage from the House in April and the Senate in May. Gov. Bredesen signs the bill, and preparations begin immediately to implement the law for the 2005-2006 school year. The pre-k legislation also creates the Office of Early Learning in the State Department of Education to monitor the programs for accountability. The office oversees the application process, consults with local communities and school systems about new programs, works closely with child care providers and Head Start programs, and serves as a clearinghouse for information.
2006		The Tennessee Alliance for Early Education continues to grow in membership and commitment, and works closely with Gov. Bredesen and the legislature to retain existing pre-k funding and add an additional $20 million budget increase to Tennessee pre-k. The Senate Education committee unanimously supports this budget, and it passes without any legislative opposition. This increased funding creates 250 new, high-quality pre-k classrooms beginning in the fall of 2006.
2007		The Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program continues to grow as Gov. Bredesen proposes, and the legislature approves, another $25 million for an additional 257 new pre-k classrooms. The Tennessee Alliance for Early Education publishes a white paper, "Voluntary Pre-K in Tennessee: Understanding the Collaboration Model," aimed at educating communities about how to successfully deliver high-quality pre-k to more of the state's children through partnerships between local school systems and private childcare providers, Head Start programs, community organizations, and local businesses.
2009		The Tennessee Comptroller's Offices of Research and Education Accountability release a policy history, "Tennessee's Pre-Kindergarten Program," to document the origins and development of state-funded pre-k in Tennessee and provide current information about program eligibility and funding.

Governor Phil Bredesen made pre-k for all one of his administration's top priorities. He worked with administration officials, outside advocacy groups and stakeholders on the underlying principles and governance. The Governor’s staff’s inclusive approach proved effective at bringing interested parties and stakeholders to the table.

Senator Jamie Woodson is Chair of the Education Committee and a rising leader of the Tennessee General Assembly. Her support for the sizeable pre-k expansions of 2005 and 2006 are widely credited with helping the initiatives become reality.

The Tennessee Association for the Education of Young Children (TAEYC) is a non-profit organization with nearly 2,000 members and 11 local affiliates. TAEYC coordinates the efforts of its members to improve the quality of early education services to Tennessee's children. TAEYC advocates Stewart Clifton and Diane Neighbors spearheaded the TAEYC work on pre-k. Neighbors, the Policy Chair for TAEYC, is a member of the Nashville City Council and Vanderbilt Child Care Centers.

TN Stand for Children is one of three state affiliates of the national organization. Stand for Children organizes local chapters and action teams to improve the quality of and funding for schools, early childhood education, and other prevention-oriented programs that give children a fair chance in life. TN Stand has chapters in Nashville, Memphis, and Chattanooga/Hamilton County.  Francie Hunt is the State Director.

The Tennessee Alliance for Early Education is a group of local, regional, and statewide organizations in support of pre-k for all. The Alliance was founded by TAEYC and TN Stand for Children and includes: the Tennessee Business Roundtable, Tennessee School Boards Association, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Tennessee Education Association, and the Tennessee Chapters of the National Association of Social Workers, the American Academy of Pediatrics, AFL-CIO, National Black Child Development Institute, and Voices for Children, among others.

 

NEW! The Tennessee Alliance for Early Education is now on Facebook!

Early childhood education advocates will continue to work with Governor Bredesen and his administration on the implementation of the pre-k legislation to ensure that the pre-k classes are high-quality and that they meet standards for facilities and teacher training.

The Tennessee Alliance for Early Education members will advocate for continued increases in pre-k funding every year in order to make pre-k available for all four year olds in Tennessee.