Just as a sturdy house depends on a strong foundation, building an excellent statewide education program will depend on how well Tennessee develops its youngest learners.
As members of the Tennessee General Assembly, we remain inspired to our responsibility that every young Tennessean should have the benefit of a robust, enriching educational experience. In their earliest years, that means becoming proficient in reading and math, and positive social and emotional development. Those are the solid building blocks of the pre-primary and primary education years that must be constructed as the foundation that is essential for longer learning success – in middle school, high school, in college and in life.
Delores Gresham
Mark WhiteTo make progress on that vision, a group of bipartisan state House and Senate members has formed the Tennessee General Assembly Early Childhood Education Caucus (ECE). The caucus held its first meeting in Nashville on Feb. 7.
The purpose is to elevate the quality of early childhood programming that we consider critically important for Tennessee to achieve a higher performing education system. Across the nation, states with high quality early ed programs experience a related higher performance in student outcomes and graduation rates. We are convinced that early education is a strategic avenue that Tennessee can navigate to improve students’ lifelong academic achievement, enhance state workforce development and quality of life in our communities.
The caucus will work with the governor and state departments of education, health and human services and meet regularly during and outside of the legislative session. An immediate focus will be to provide a forum for legislators and our state partners to discuss best practices for accelerating recent reforms that have resulted in Tennessee’s progress as one of the fastest improving states on the Nation’s Report Card.