• Click here for recent pre-K news.
• Click here for research and reports regarding the benefits of pre-K.
• Click here to download a report detailing Tennessee's pre-K collaboration model. The report was developed by the Tennessee Alliance for Early Education, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education's Office of Early Learning. Read more about the report by clicking here.
• Click here for pre-K eligibility and enrollment information from the Tennessee Department of Education Office of Early Learning Web site.
• Click here to get involved and learn how you can show your support.
• Click here to view photos from the April 23 news conference held at the Martha O'Bryan Center in Nashville.

Alliance Activities____________________ ___                               

2008 Tennessee Early Childhood Summit:
Building Early Learning Foundations Together
***REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN***
Reserve Your Spot Today!
Click here to download the conference registration form.

The Tennessee Alliance for Early Education, the Tennessee Department of Education's Office of Early Learning, Pre-K Now and the Head Start State Collaboration Office are pleased to announce the 2008 Tennessee Early Childhood Summit: Building Early Learning Foundations Together.

WHAT: The Summit will focus on professional leadership, community partnerships and public investment which build on the foundations for the successful delivery of high-quality pre-K to Tennessee's 4-year-olds. Conference participants will also have the opportunity to view pre-K curricula aligned with Tennessee Early Learning Development Standards at the Summit's curriculum fair.

WHO: The Summit will be geared toward administrators, supervisors, school board members, advisory board members and teachers from the public and private arenas of early childhood learning.

SPONSORS: The Summit is sponsored by Pre-K Now, the Tennessee Alliance for Early Education, the Head Start State Collaboration Office and the Tennessee Department of Education's Office of Early Learning, which includes the Even Start Program, public school preschool programs and school-based support programs such as family resource centers.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: The Summit will feature three early childhood experts:
Dr. Sam Meisels, president of the Erikson Institute, Graduate School in Child Development; Dr. David Kirp, professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley, and author of Sand Box Investment: The Preschool Movement and Kids-First Politics; and Dr. Mary Louise Hemmeter, associate professor of special education at Vanderbilt University.

WHEN: June 26-27, 2008 (Thursday and Friday)

WHERE: Sheraton Music City
              777 McGavock Pike
              Nashville, Tenn.

HOTEL INFORMATION:
              (615) 885-2200
              www.sheratonmusiccity.com

Room rates for the conference are as follows:
              • Single $117 • Double $117
              • Triple $127 • Quad $137

Please note that a limited number of rooms are available for conference participants. A block of rooms has been reserved for participants (nights of June 25, 26 and 27). When contacting the hotel for reservations, please tell them that you are a TAEE Collaboration Conference participant.

Space is limited, and registration will be first-come, first-served. The registration fee* is $92 and the registration deadline is May 25. There will be no on-site registration at the conference, and checks received after June 13 will not be returned. Please make payments via check and purchase orders; checks are payable to TAEYC.

Click here to download the conference registration form.

*Your registration fee will cover the cost of admission and lunch on Thursday and Friday.

- View photos from the 2007 Early Childhood Summit here.
- View the 2007 Tennessee Early Childhood Summit program here.
- Find more information about the 2007 Summit here.

Alliance Updates_________ _________________  __________ 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2008
Tennessee Alliance for Early Education

STATEWIDE SURVEY SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR PRE-K INITIATIVES
69 Percent Favors Expanding Program Beyond At-Risk Students on Voluntary Basis

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Expanding the state's pre-kindergarten program beyond at-risk children to make it available to all 4-year-olds has strong support in Tennessee, the results of a statewide survey show.

Of the 500 registered voters surveyed, 69 percent said they support expanding the pre-K program to all 4-year-olds in the state on a voluntary basis, while only 15 percent were opposed and 15 percent were undecided.

The survey was commissioned by the Tennessee Alliance for Early Education in partnership with Pre-K Now, a national education advocacy group. READ MORE

You can read more about the results of the Alliance's statewide survey on The Nashville Business Journal Web site by clicking here.

___________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2008
Tennessee Alliance for Early Education

PRE-K ADVOCATES CONVENE ON CAPITOL HILL TO VOICE SUPPORT
Tennessee Alliance for Early Education, United Way Partner for Event

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – More than 50 pre-K advocates from across Tennessee convened Wednesday on Capitol Hill to voice support for a $25 million expansion of the state’s voluntary high-quality pre-K program.

“The Alliance supports the move toward pre-K that is voluntary and open to all families who wish their children to be enrolled,” Alliance chairwoman Diane Neighbors said. “Alliance and United Way members spent the day meeting with their legislators to discuss the need for an expanded program, and to ask for their support. It was a very successful Day on the Hill.”

The Tennessee Alliance for Early Education hosted the 2008 Pre-K Day on the Hill in partnership with United Ways of Tennessee, which provides the matching funds for 46 pre-K classrooms in Tennessee. The goal of the event is to unite proponents of Gov. Phil Bredesen’s statewide pre-kindergarten initiative and demonstrate broad support for his proposal to expand early education in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of more than 650 individuals and groups who believe the expansion of pre-K opportunities across the state is critical to the future success of our children. Visit www.prekfortn.com for more information.

Pre-K in the News__________________________ ___  _____ 
Back to top

Crunch time for 4-year-olds; A key Senate committee looks at the state education budget to see if the pre-K plan fits in
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Sunday, March 16, 2008

Stand for Children calls to make pre-K a priority
The Chattanoogan.com
March 13, 2008

Poll shows most favor expansion of state's pre-K program
Nashville Business Journal
Monday, March 10, 2008

Shelby County's Pre-K classes help at-risk children
The Commercial Appeal
Bernie Errion
Sunday, March 9, 2008

Expert says Tennessee’s Pre-K program is model for other states
Knoxville News Sentinel (Knoxville)
Lucas L. Johnson II, Associated Press
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008

Pre-K: Thinking beyond the A-B-Cs
The Free Lance-Star
Gov. Phil Bredesen, Tennessee
Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008

Business sees the value in pre-K programs
The Tennessean
Nelson Andrews
Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008

Pre-K lays foundation for child's education
The Tennessean
Linda O'Neal
Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008

Knowing what you teach and how to teach it
The Commercial Appeal
Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008

Pre-K debate must be about the children, not the politics
The Tennessean
Our View
Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008

Politicians are wrong to attack pre-K plan
The Tennessean
Gail Kerr
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008

Take a slow, steady approach to pre-K
The Jackson Sun
Friday, Feb. 8, 2008

Click here for more pre-K news.

About the Alliance___   __ _______________________________ 

The Tennessee Alliance for Early Education was established in 2005 to support Gov. Phil Bredesen's proposal to expand the state's existing pre-kindergarten education program. The Alliance is a broad coalition of individuals and groups who believe the expansion of pre-kindergarten opportunities across the state is critical to the future success of our children.

We are proud to have been a part of the successful legislative campaigns in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The Alliance is now working to support Gov. Bredesen in the 2008 legislative session as he aims to again raise the bar for early education in Tennessee.

There is strength in numbers, and it is vital that our membership list reflect the support we have across the state. Please verify that you are an Alliance member by clicking here. If you do not see your name on this list, you can fill out a membership form by clicking here.

You can help us build membership by e-mailing two people you think would be interested in joining the Alliance. Membership is free, and it only takes a minute to sign up.

Learn more about the Alliance here.