Nashville Early Education Coalition

Nashville Early Education Coalition Empowering Nashville's Early Education for a Bright Future

08/19/2026

ICYMI: Congratulations to Pratibha Ghare and Talisa Watkins, the 2026 Ignite! Award recipients. 👏

NEEC was proud to sponsor this year's Ignite! Conference and Beginning Beacon Award, hosted by United Way of Greater Nashville and CORE Network Nashville. 114 champions of early childhood education gathered to celebrate the people who show up every day for Nashville's youngest kids.

✨ Pratibha Ghare of Calvary Young Children's School was named 2026 Ignite! Early Educator of the Year.

✨ Talisa Watkins of Ivanetta H. Davis Early Learning Center was recognized as the 2026 Beginning Beacon Early Educator.

✨Metro Council Members Rollin Horton and Clap Capp were named as legislators of the year.

They join dozens of other Nashville educators honored at the school level. Elevating early educators is one of NEEC's three focus areas. We can't build the childcare system Nashville families need without recognizing, celebrating, and investing in the people doing the work.

Shoutout to United Way of Greater Nashville and CORE Network for a great event, and to Freddie O'Connell, Mayor of Metropolitan Nashville & Davidson County for joining.

I mean, it's kinda chic.
08/18/2026

I mean, it's kinda chic.

You may see NEEC talk about ALICE families, but what does that mean? ALICE stands for Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained,...
08/13/2026

You may see NEEC talk about ALICE families, but what does that mean?

ALICE stands for Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed. These are working families who earn above the poverty line but still do not make enough to cover basic needs, including childcare.

Last month, in their annual State of ALICE report, the group , shared that the gap between wages and expenses are growing — an average ALICE family can fall short more than $18,000 annually just to cover the basics.

Strong childcare policy should be built with ALICE families in mind. When care is out of reach, parents miss work, children miss learning, and employers lose talent.

Read more about the State of ALICE: https://www.unitedforalice.org/news-and-stories-article/978CADD2

July is Disability Pride Month, a reminder that access must mean access for every child and every family. High-quality e...
07/30/2026

July is Disability Pride Month, a reminder that access must mean access for every child and every family.

High-quality early learning should support children with a wide range of needs and help educators create inclusive environments from the very beginning.

NEEC is working toward a stronger early childhood system where all families can find care that works.

It’s never too early to prioritize mental health. For young children, consistent early learning environments help build ...
07/24/2026

It’s never too early to prioritize mental health.

For young children, consistent early learning environments help build trust, relationships, and healthy development. For families, reliable care reduces stress and supports work. For educators, sustainable jobs make it possible to stay in the field.

This Mental Health Month, just a friendly reminder that a stronger childcare system supports well-being for children, families, and the people who care for them.


Health America

07/21/2026

At NEEC, we know that every data point matters. Survey responses like these strengthen the research behind our policy work, helping ensure decisions about childcare regulations and requirements are shaped by the people doing this work every day.

If you haven't shared your experience yet, there's still time.

Preschool expansion is important, but Nashville families also need infant and toddler care, full-day care, and care that...
07/16/2026

Preschool expansion is important, but Nashville families also need infant and toddler care, full-day care, and care that works with real work schedules.

Infant and toddler classrooms are harder and more expensive to sustain because they require smaller ratios and more staffing.

If we want to truly expand access, we have to build solutions for children from birth to age five.

More organizations are recognizing that early childhood education connects to workforce, poverty, education, and equity....
07/14/2026

More organizations are recognizing that early childhood education connects to workforce, poverty, education, and equity.

NEEC’s Policy Blueprint offers a shared, data-informed starting point for action. At the Metro level, our priorities are clear: fund the system, remove barriers, and build capacity so families can access high-quality early learning across neighborhoods, schedules, and care settings.

Read the Policy Blueprint on our website for more.

Want clear updates on Nashville’s childcare landscape, early educator supports, policy progress, and local research? Sig...
07/09/2026

Want clear updates on Nashville’s childcare landscape, early educator supports, policy progress, and local research?

Sign up for NEEC’s newsletter. We’ll keep sharing what we’re learning and how partners across Nashville can help build a stronger early childhood education system.

Sign up at https://www.nasheec.org/newsletter-signup

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