Tennessee's Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program

We need to work hard to help our youngest children arrive on the first day of kindergarten prepared to take advantage of what lies ahead. Across our state, there's one thing educators agree on: Tennessee needs a strong pre-K program.
--Governor Phil Bredesen

"I truly believe that every school can benefit from this program; my daughter is so excited about learning and coming to school every day..." -- Ms. Kim Roberts, parent of a Prek student at Glenn Enhanced Option School

"Children learn more from birth to 5 than any other time in their lives; this is the place to make the investment if we want to make a lasting difference."

"I like a saying that I saw posted on a colleagues door: ‘This room isn't noisy, it's a place where children are learning’."

"The earlier we begin to touch children's lives, the longer they will touch other people's lives."

"These children that I am teaching now are being instilled with a real joy of learning and a longing for interaction and education."

-- Mrs. Della Johnson, Prek Teacher

"I have been a Classroom Assistant for both Prek and Kindergarten classrooms. Prek students arrive at Kindergarten knowing how to write their names and so much more; their chances for success are much greater because of their Prek experience."

-- Ms. Bonita Osborne, Classroom Assistant

"It's great to watch them learn and help them grow. The people that will replace us in this life will be a reflection of the ways that we invest in them today. Our ultimate goal should be that these children, and all children, reach their fullest potential."

-- "Mr. Billy", an NES volunteer who reads to the children once/week

"We can tell a major difference between children who went through a quality Prek program and those that went through child care or no program at all, not just academically, but emotionally and socially as well."

"Prek students show a better understanding of structure and limits."

-- Mrs. Sharon Collins, Kindergarten Teacher

"The individual who is at the top of my class went through the Prek program. We can tell major differences in children that went through high quality Prek programs."

"Our Prek students have much better retention; it also doesn't take them as long to learn new concepts."

-- Ms. Cooper and Ms. Green, 1st Grade Teachers

"I have had the privilege of serving as the principal at two schools with Prek programs – one school served mainly upper-middle class families, while my current school serves a more blue-collar neighborhood. It has been very apparent to me that Prek is beneficial for children throughout the economic spectrum; however, it is extremely fundamental for working class families and their children."

"There are so many things that children experience in a quality Prek program that they do not receive at a traditional child care, and many times, that they do not receive at home. Specifically, many children come to us without extended language development, which is imperative in order for children to learn how to verbalize, recall and express their feelings, and handle conflict. We see the lack of these skills manifested in later elementary years as frustration and ultimately violence. Without it, everything just gets confused and is expressed as anger."

"We feel that having a qualified teacher in a Prek program is very important. A good teacher is what distinguishes a Prek program from a child care program."

-- Dr. Alan Powell, Principal, Glenn Enhanced Option School