Over the last two weeks, I have had the privilege of attending several days of meeting representatives and other advocates of children in our state. While it was refreshing to see so many people in person, it was also sobering seeing what the last two years of multiple pandemic-related issues have continually created worse outcomes for our children in Tennessee.
The data is clear: the children of Tennessee are not having their needs met by the adults of our Sate. At this time, almost 50 percent of children in TNLIVEIN CHILDCARE DESErt. Expanding our children's credit would allow 380,00 more children to receive quality services as we perceived at McNeilly and other quality care providers in our state.
Did you know that 60 percent of children aged 3-5 are not currently in an early learning environment despite us knowing that the ROI on early education is 13 percent? These factors are creating a current 34 billion dollar deficit in Tennessee's economy. As one of only one percent of Tennesss centers with national accreditation, it is clear that we are headed in the right direction. Now more than ever, high-quality early education is so desperately needed.
How can YOU support early childhood education and McNeilly?
-donate or volunteer with our children and families
-learn the benefits of and advocate for quality early childhood education