Department of Education
Dr. Tim Webb, Commissioner

Nashville , TN- Governor Phil Bredesen and the Tennessee Department of Education celebrate the Week of the Young Child, April 2nd – 8th, to spotlight the importance of early education programs that provide a crucial beginning for children. Founded in 1971 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Week of the Young Child is a time to recognize opportunities for how Tennessee will better meet the needs of all young children and their families.

“We are so fortunate to have a leader like Governor Bredesen who recognizes the value of an early start to a quality education,” Education Commissioner Lana Seivers said. “His unwavering support for high quality pre-K programs has given Tennessee much-needed momentum in elevating the education of all children.”

Three hundred new pre-K classrooms opened in 2005 under the Governor's Voluntary Pre-K for All program in which he invested $25 million. This year, he hopes to increase that investment and bring the number of four-year-olds enrolled in a high quality pre-K program to 14,000.

“I am humbled by the tireless early childhood educators whose work is so vital to the young children of Tennessee ,” said Bobbi Lussier, executive director of early childhood learning. “Captivating a young child's hunger for learning is a true gift too often unrecognized.”

Ninety percent of brain development occurs before a child steps foot in a Kindergarten classroom. Research has shown that children who receive a quality early childhood education are less likely to repeat a grade, be referred for special education services or drop out of school.

While Tennessee 's plan gives priority to at-risk four-year-olds, pre-K is also considered a mechanism for reaching out early to the growing number of English language learners.

Every state pre-K classroom is led by a college graduate certified in early childhood education and a trained teaching assistant who together serve no more than 20 children. Children are exposed to a multi-faceted, standards-based curriculum during a five and a half hour school day.

For more information on pre-K in Tennessee , contact the Office of Early Learning at (615) 253-3182.