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The TAEYC public policy co-chairs: Diane Neighbors, Phil Acord and Rhonda Laird along with the TAEYC advocate Stewart Clifton have been busy at Legislative Plaza this session.
Most of the work being done this session revolves around working to get to know all the new legislators and building relationships with them so they will be comfortable with us as early childhood advocates. Some of the things we have done to support this is personally taking Week of the Young Child brochures to them and talking with them about the importance of early education for Tennessee’s children.
We hope that you will all get to know your particular senators and representatives so that when needed, you can call on them and they will listen. Legislators listen best to those who actually hold a vote in their districts. You can get to know them by inviting them to your programs, writing them a letter and introducing yourself and what you do for young children daily. Ask them to call on you if they have any questions. Send them invitations to your local AEYC board meetings or invite them to functions you are holding in your area for Week of the Young Child.
If you are a student, invite the senators or representatives of your campus, to come and sit in on an early childhood class or meeting of a society that you may belong to that does work with young children. Let them know that students on campus in their districts are active in the early childhood field and you work with Tennessee’s children.
TAEYC continues to advocate for high quality voluntary pre-k and supports Governor Bredesen’s efforts to maintain our current commitment even in tough economic times. We also are advocating for quality early education and resisting efforts to reduce standards, while supporting efforts to use stimulus money for more subsidized early childhood education slots.
Of course, as your public policy co chairs, we are monitoring all bills that pertain to early childhood, young children or schools. When something comes up we will let your local AEYC boards know about it so we can form appropriate responses to those bills. At the end of the session, we will write a summary of 2009 session and let you know how things went, overall. Take care and do not hesitate to contact any of us.
Sincerely,
Diane Neighbors diane.r.neighbors@vanderbilt.edu
Phil Acord ppasb4@aol.com
Rhonda Laird rhonda.laird@vanderbilt.edu
Stewart Clifton stewartclifton@comcast.net
List of important links for public policy:
www.tennessee.gov – For information on the state’s pre-k programs
www.prekfortn.com – for information on the Tennessee’s Alliance and new pre-k legislation for all 4 year olds.
www.votesmart.org – this website will help you identify your elected officials
List of important links for public policy:
www.Tennessee.Gov – For information on the new pre-k legislation
WWW.TNPreK.org – for information on the Governor’s new pre-k legislation for all 4 year olds.
www.results.gpponline.org – The Government Performance Project—this site shows the state’s report card
www.TNDisabilityMegaConference.org – The third annual Disability Mega Conference to be held
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