NEEC Updates and Resources

Strong Starts. Stronger Nashville. Citywide Book Read

August 29, 2025

Join the Nashville Early Education Coalition for a citywide book read of The Daycare Myth, by Dr. Dan Wuori.

Sustaining Childcare for Nashville's Low-Income Families: A Call for Public Investment

August 29, 2025

This white paper shares findings from a two-year childcare stabilization effort, highlighting the financial realities faced by organizations serving low-income families in Davidson County. With data from 12 community-based providers, it outlines the persistent gap between the cost of quality care and the revenue these centers can generate, as well as the challenges of recruiting and retaining early educators. The report makes the case for sustained public investment as essential to ensuring access to affordable, high-quality early learning for all families- and a stronger future for Nashville.

Strong Starts. Stronger Nashville. Documentary Screening & Panel Discussion

August 15, 2025

Join the Nashville Early Education Coalition for a screening of the documentary Starting At Zero. After the film, there will be a panel discussion and light refreshments.

How Much Child Care Can Nashville Actually Supply? Early Findings and Next Steps from the Davidson County Child Care Landscape Study

July 18, 2025

This policy brief shares findings from the Davidson County Child Care Landscape Study, highlighting a disparity between young children and licensed child care slots in Nashville, especially in underserved areas. It emphasizes the need for accurate data on child care availability and provider capacity to guide policy solutions that enhance access and equity for families.

Strengthening Tennessee's Early Child Care System: A Comprehensive Analysis of Policy Proposals Affecting Accessibility, Affordability, and Quality.

July 18, 2025

Child care accessibility, affordability, and quality are pivotal concerns in Nashville and beyond, drawing increasing focus on possible policy strategies to forge transformative change in our early care and education systems.

The Frist Foundation Awards $5 Million Grant to Propel Early Education Initiatives in Nashville

July 11, 2025

The Frist Foundation has awarded a $5 million grant to support the work of the recently established Nashville Early Education Coalition (NEEC). The historic investment will empower NEEC’s burgeoning efforts to strengthen and expand access to high-quality early childhood education across the city.

New report highlights gap between what families pay for childcare and actual cost of quality care in Nashville

Early childhood educators in Nashville are working to make childcare more affordable for families while also addressing the need for better teacher pay. The Nashville Early Education Coalition recently analyzed financial data from 12 childcare centers that serve low-income families. Their findings revealed a clear gap between what parents are paying and the actual cost of providing quality care.

Research: Workforce, Economic Mobility, and the Critical Role of Childcare

In addition to rising housing costs and traffic congestion, childcare is a third challenge that is equally critical to the Nashville region’s economy. While often overlooked in infrastructure and workforce conversations, access to affordable, quality childcare is foundational to maintaining a strong labor force—especially for women in our region.

Lipscomb University named Tennessee’s first early childhood education apprenticeship hub to address critical workforce development needs across the state

Lipscomb University has been named by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) as the state’s first early childhood education apprenticeship hub. This initiative is in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This designation positions Lipscomb at the forefront of addressing critical workforce needs in early childhood education while providing aspiring educators with a fully funded pathway to a bachelor’s degree.

Tennessee child care costs lead the Southeast, report finds

The cost of child care in Tennessee and around the nation is skyrocketing, with a new report finding that it's outpacing overall inflation.

In-Home Child Care Model Gives Parents, Providers a New Option: Raphah Institute’s Early Embrace is one of several initiatives aimed at fixing a strained industry

The Early Embrace program trains Nashville residents to open in-home child care businesses, providing more options for families. Meanwhile, the Nashville Early Education Coalition (NEEC) is pushing for policy reforms and provider support to address the city’s child care crisis. Together, these efforts aim to create sustainable solutions for parents, caregivers, and communities.

Signature Required with Spencer Patton: Fixing the Early Childhood Education Crisis

We talk with TN leaders—business owners, policy experts, educators, and residents—who champion the entrepreneurial spirit and transform once-small ideas into big impact. Melanie Shinbaum, Executive Director of the Nashville Early Education Coalition, joins us to discuss the critical challenges facing early education in Tennessee.

New 29-member Nashville coalition takes aim at the city's child care crisis

A newly launched coalition made up for 29 community partners across Nashville is taking aim at what it calls a child care crisis in Davidson County.

Nashville leaders are joining forces to fight the early childhood education crisis

Government, business and philanthropic institutions are joining forces to embark on a moon mission of fixing Nashville's early childhood education crisis.

TN lawmakers to discuss childcare crisis solutions

Tennessee lawmakers discuss legislation to address the state's childcare crisis, including the proposed Municipalities’ Access To Childcare (M.A.T.C.H.) Fund.

Supporting, disrupting and innovating on America’s child care solutions

Learn how the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is partnering with the U.S. Chamber Foundation to advance and support innovative solutions that address childcare demand in creative ways.

Tennessee to fund employer-sponsored child care with new grant program

Applications are now open for state-funded grants aimed at making child care more accessible in Tennessee. Learn about the demand for early education in TN, and the work being done to meet it.

State Session Round Up: Summer 2024

Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA)'s resource that reflects on legislative and administrative activities involving early child care for the first half of 2024.

Video: Family Voices on Accessing Child Care and Early Education

In this video, parents describe the many factors they consider when looking for child care and early education (CCEE) for their children. Their experiences help bring a multi-dimensional framework of access to CCEE to life.

Early childhood education is a necessity; we must work together to bring it to every child

The Tennessean covers the "Week of the Young Child", which is all about recognizing that the education received in the early childhood years lays a foundation for success.

2024 Ignite! Awards

The 2024 Ignite! Awards featured 121 guests who joined CORE Network Nashville to celebrate excellence in early childhood education.