Tennessee
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| Strategy Name | Strategy Type(s) | Year | Funding Amount | Funding Source | Features at a Glance | |
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Child Care Creation Grant Program
In 2022, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development launched the Child Care Creation Grant Program using Community Development Block Grant CARES Act funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program aims to expand child care capacity in Tennessee by providing $9 million in grants with a maximum award of $500,000. Only non-home-based providers are eligible for funding, which can be used for the following: acquisition of property, building, or structure; rehabilitation of facilities; purchase of equipment; and clearance or demolition of structures.
Learn More: child care creation grant program
Source: Greater Nashville Regional Council. (n.d.). Child care creation grant program.
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2022 | $9 million |
CCDBG COVID Relief Allocations – CARES, CRRSE, ARPA (CCDF & Stabilization)
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One-time funding
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In 2022, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development launched the Child Care Creation Grant Program using Community Development Block Grant CARES Act funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program aims to expand child care capacity in Tennessee by providing $9 million in grants with a maximum award of $500,000. Only non-home-based providers are eligible for funding, which can be used for the following: acquisition of property, building, or structure; rehabilitation of facilities; purchase of equipment; and clearance or demolition of structures.
Learn More: child care creation grant program
Source: Greater Nashville Regional Council. (n.d.). Child care creation grant program.
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Child Care WAGE$ Tennessee
Started in 2019, the Child Care WAGE$ Tennessee program rewards early childhood educators with financial incentives based on education and employment continuity in hopes of increasing teacher retention. First funded by the City of Chattanooga over a six-month period, the program awarded $75,000 in supplements to 73 educators from 29 centers. The program was then expanded statewide by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). WAGE$ has awarded more than $4 million in salary supplements across Tennessee to educators. To be eligible, child care professionals should earn at or below the income cap of $20 per hour, and they must work with children ages birth to 5 at least 10 hours a week in a licensed child care program. Levels of salary supplements are specific to the educator’s level of education, and supplements are issued in two six-month direct-deposit payments following completion with the same child care program. Through its department of human services, Tennessee also offers various professional development to early educators, including trainings (both in person and online), a registry, a resource-sharing platform for directors and owners, and tech coaching. WAGE$ is now funded through TDHS and is administered by Signal Centers.
The Child Care WAGE$ Program supports educators and directors in center-based, family child care, and other licensed child care programs serving children from birth to 5 years old.
Learn more: Child Care Wage$ Tennessee
Sources:
Child Care Wage$ Tennessee. (n.d.). About Us.
Child Care Wage$ Tennessee. (2022). Fact Sheet.
Tennessee Department of Human Services. (n.d.). Child Care Incentives, Grants and Supports.
Tennessee Department of Human Services. (n.d.). TNPAL, Training and Professional Development Resources.
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2019 | $4 million |
Supplements range from $600 to $7,800, depending on educational attainment
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Started in 2019, the Child Care WAGE$ Tennessee program rewards early childhood educators with financial incentives based on education and employment continuity in hopes of increasing teacher retention. First funded by the City of Chattanooga over a six-month period, the program awarded $75,000 in supplements to 73 educators from 29 centers. The program was then expanded statewide by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). WAGE$ has awarded more than $4 million in salary supplements across Tennessee to educators. To be eligible, child care professionals should earn at or below the income cap of $20 per hour, and they must work with children ages birth to 5 at least 10 hours a week in a licensed child care program. Levels of salary supplements are specific to the educator’s level of education, and supplements are issued in two six-month direct-deposit payments following completion with the same child care program. Through its department of human services, Tennessee also offers various professional development to early educators, including trainings (both in person and online), a registry, a resource-sharing platform for directors and owners, and tech coaching. WAGE$ is now funded through TDHS and is administered by Signal Centers.
The Child Care WAGE$ Program supports educators and directors in center-based, family child care, and other licensed child care programs serving children from birth to 5 years old.
Learn more: Child Care Wage$ Tennessee
Sources:
Child Care Wage$ Tennessee. (n.d.). About Us.
Child Care Wage$ Tennessee. (2022). Fact Sheet.
Tennessee Department of Human Services. (n.d.). Child Care Incentives, Grants and Supports.
Tennessee Department of Human Services. (n.d.). TNPAL, Training and Professional Development Resources.
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Demographics Link copied!
Demographics Data Scorecard
State population
7,051,339 Source U.S. Census, 2022
Rural %
33.8% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Urban %
66.2% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Number of children 0–4
402,350 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Poverty levels - children 0—8 below 200% poverty
43% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Median family income among households with children
$73,300.00 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Unemployment rate
3.0% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2024
Unemployment rate of parents
3% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force
65% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children living in households with a high housing cost burden
26% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Child Population by Race and Ethnicity Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Race and Ethnicity
- American Indian and Alaska Native (.5%)
- Asian (2%)
- Black or African American (19%)
- Hispanic or Latino (11%)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (.5%)
- Two or more races (4%)
- White, not Hispanic or Latino (64%)
| Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
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| Governor | R | R | R | R | R |
| State House | R | R | R | R | R |
| State Senate | R | R | R | R | R |
Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!
Early Childhood Education Programs
Public Pre-K Program Name
Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) Source: NIEER 2023
Universal or Targeted Pre-K Policy
Targeted Pre-K Policy (4-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023
Early Childhood Education Programs (3-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs (1%)
- 3-Year-old Children Enrolled in Head Start (9%)
- Other/None (89%)
Early Childhood Education Programs (4-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs (19%)
- 4-Year-old Children Enrolled in Head Start (6%)
- Other/None (75%)
Workforce Link copied!
2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source CSCCE 2018, 2020
Role
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Child Care Workers
$9.71 (2017, adjusted)
$9.85 (2019) -
Preschool Teachers
$12.87 (2017, adjusted)
$13.45 (2019) -
Preschool or Child Care Center Directors
$21.48 (2017, adjusted)
$23.79 (2019)
Funding Sources Link copied!
Federal and State Early Childhood Education Funding (in Millions) Source First Five Years Fund, 2024
Funding Source
- Head Start and Early Head Start Funding ($186.8)
- CCDBG & Mandatory Funds ($316.8)
- CCDBG State Match ($24)
- State-Funded Pre-K ($86)
- MIECHV ($11.7)
- IDEA Part C ($10.8)
- IDEA Part B, Sec 619 ($7.6)
- TANF Early Learning and Care ($86.1)
- Preschool Development Grant Birth ($4)