Memphis Fast Forward

Despite growing state budget pressures, Gov. Phil Bredesen is committed to “doing everything possible” to maintain state K-12 funding and avoid cuts in state-funded Pre-K — both cornerstones of Fast Forward’s human capital plan. 

During the first round of state budget hearings in November, Gov. Bredesen named K-12 funding as his top priority.  Though no increases will be sought for BEP 2.0, a significant revision to the state funding formula which is now funded at 50%, the Governor hopes to not lose ground in the coming fiscal crunch.  Though many other departments are being asked to cut up to 20% of their budgets, the Governor will seek up to $80 million in added funds this year to cover inflationary costs necessary to maintain last years increase in K-12 funding.

The Governor has also vowed to protect Pre-K programs.  However, any funding increase in this area is unlikely.

For More Information Contact: Rachel Wood (615) 253-1960

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Nearly all — 23 of the 24 — childcare programs supported by the Ready, Set, Grow! pilot program at the University of Memphis that applied for accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) have achieved it, increasing the number of Shelby County accredited childcare centers by 60% and nearly tripling the number serving primarily economically disadvantaged children.  As a result, about 1,700 more children annually across Shelby County will get top quality early care and education to help boost school readiness, a critical goal of Memphis Fast Forward.

To earn NAEYC accreditation, childcare centers must thoroughly demonstrate that they have policies and resources, including qualified teachers, to ensure that high quality early childhood development is consistently delivered in every classroom.  The Ready, Set, Grow! pilot program provided a variety of support for participating centers, including academic scholarships for program directors, on-site teacher training, grants for equipment and materials, and on-site consulting.  During this pilot phase, directors and centers spent several years meeting high accreditation standards.

With a wave of funding provided by the Plough Foundation, Ready, Set, Grow! has kicked off its second phase with a professional development program to prepare center directors for the accreditation process.  In addition, the program’s upcoming phase offers support to more than 30 accredited centers to help them maintain their accreditation under new, more stringent accreditation standards introduced in 2006.

For More Information Contact: Deborah Moberly (901) 678-3517

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Thirty-three child care centers from a diverse array of neighborhoods in Memphis and Shelby County were recently recognized by Mayor A C Wharton, the University of Memphis and statewide peers for earning accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC.).  NAEYC accreditation certifies that a child care program is delivering the highest quality early childhood development, the foundation for children’s academic and lifelong success and a cornerstone of Fast Forward’s education and workforce development strategy.

Meeting NAEYC’s rigorous standards indicates that a childcare program is fully equipped to help young children reach their full potential.  These standards include a safe and healthy environment, higher academic standards for teachers, excellence in teaching techniques and curriculum, and the ability to meet the individual needs of children and families.

For more information, please visit www.maeycmemphis.org

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The Shelby County Office of Early Childhood and Youth has launched Ask First: Is it Good for the Children?, a campaign to make children and youth a top priority in Shelby County.  This initiative promotes government and business policies that support children, and also sets the stage to engage parents more actively in their children’s education, a key Memphis Fast Forward strategy for improving student achievement in Shelby County.

The Shelby County-funded “social marketing” campaign asks citizens and organizations to consistently ask whether decisions are “good for the children.” This includes public policy and funding, but also the everyday decisions parents, businesses and churches make about how they might support children and youth.

Modeled after similar campaigns in Kansas City and Orlando, the awareness campaign is designed to help change culture throughout Shelby County.  The campaign will be promoted through advertising, outreach and business partnerships, including a tool kit that lists free ways people can put children first.

One way is for parents and caregivers to support their children’s schooling.  Research shows that parental engagement in their child’s education has a big positive impact on academic achievement.  This campaign will help build awareness for how parents can help their children succeed in school.

For More Information Contact: Julie Coffey (901) 526-1822

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State lawmakers gave the go-ahead for charter schools to operate in Tennessee until 2015. This year’s new law also takes first steps to expand access to a wider range of students.

While charter school advocates did not get everything they hoped for, the new law extends the “sunset provision” that threatened to close charter schools in 2008. Expanded eligibility requirements also open up some slots in K-3 classrooms to low-income students in good academic standing. Under prior law, charter schools were only available to failing students or students attending failing schools.

For More Information Contact: Beth Flanagan (901) 448-8800

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Last year, Memphis Teach for America corps members, all first year teachers, outperformed peer teachers in Memphis City Schools for student achievement in 13 of 18 subjects measured — in many cases by significant margins.

These findings are backed by a six-year in-depth study by the prestigious Urban Institute. Researchers studying teachers in North Carolina found “that Teach for America teachers tend to have a positive effect on high school student test scores relative to non-Teach for America teachers, including those who are certified in-field. Such effects exceed the impact of additional years of experience and are particularly strong in math and science.”

For More Information Contact: Brad Leon (901) 527-7510 or view the Urban Institute study.

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President Bush recently praised Memphis Catholic Schools leadership and local philanthropists for spreading educational excellence in the inner city through the Jubilee Schools of the Diocese of Memphis.

Ten local Jubilee Schools provide an affordable high quality private education to more than 1,400 low income students - 81% from non-Catholic families and 96% from families at or below the poverty line. These schools have a zero dropout rate and graduate 99.9% of their students. One key to their success is the comprehensive services and support provided to student’s families.

Source: Commercial Appeal

For More Information Contact: Mary McDonald (901) 373-1219

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A 2007 poll by the University of Memphis shows that nearly 80% of Shelby County residents believe that early learning experiences before the ages of five help children better prepare for kindergarten. The poll also shows strong support for public investments to improve the quality of early learning experiences.

Accordingly, the poll shows that people appear to be using program quality as a priority when choosing childcare. Over the past few years, there has been a steady increase in awareness of Tennessee’s “Star-quality” system for rating day and childcare programs People appear to be using these ratings to choose childcare.

For More Information Contact: Kenya Bradshaw (901)526-1822

Shelby County Government established a new office of Early Childhood and Youth to make sure this question is factored into all future County policy-making, and to encourage businesses and other organizations think about how their decision-making affects the well-being of our community’s children.

PeopleFirst state legislative priorities – expanded funding for Pre-K and K-12 (BEP), and Charter Schools legislation renewal – are moving through the State House and Senate and need support now!

Last year, BEP 2.0 delivered approximately $200 million new state dollars to local school systems  – including $40 million to MCS and $18 million to SCS. For next year, the Governor’s budget added $86 million more for K-12 schools through BEP 2.0, and $25 million for Pre-K. But the state’s current budget crunch jeopardizes new funding for both BEP 2.0 and Pre-K.

Proposed Charter School legislation, now moving through the House and Senate, would mean greater school choice to more economically disadvantaged public school students.

These legislative priorities are keys to improving public education in Shelby County, a cornerstone of the Memphis Fast Forward plan.

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