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Tennessee Child Care Grants, Programs and Services

Whether you are looking to start a child care program in Tennessee or are a seasoned owner, there are many resources available to help fund your programs. Each state has a primary agency or organization responsible for subsidizing child care programs. They partner with local child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies and shared services organizations to raise awareness of grant opportunities and support the distribution of funding. They also provide additional programs and services to help you run your business. 

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Tennessee Child Care Grants, Programs and Services 

Primary State Agency (Child Care Development Fund)

This primary agency oversees early care and education programs and services in Tennessee, and they are responsible for subsidizing child care programs from federal and state child care grants. Visit the Tennessee Department of Human Services.

Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R Agency)

Child Care Resource & Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) are another great resource for assisting child care providers with available grants and funding and other resources. Contact your local CCR&R agency.

Shared Services Organizations

The community of ECE leaders working to provide services to support sustainable child care programs is growing all the time. Reach out to your local organizations to learn more about their services. Visit Childcare Tennessee.

NAEYC Regional Affiliates

Join your local NAEYC affiliate to connect with professionals in your community at conferences, networking events, leadership opportunities, advocacy efforts and more. Visit Nashville Area Association for the Education of Young Children (NAAEYC).

Champions of Mixed Delivery Monthly Call

The Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC) and National Child Care Association (NCCA) and are partnering to offer Champions of Mixed Delivery, a series of monthly check-in calls to share and receive updates about key proposals, coordinate messaging and talking points and share resources for advocacy. View dates and register for a call here.

Tennessee Child Care Licensing Requirements

Learn more about child care licensing requirements in Tennessee.

Learn more about Tennessee early learning standards.

Tennessee Early Childhood Education Quality Ratings, Curriculum and Assessments

Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) 

Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. Many states require these quality standards in order to receive grants and additional funding. View the Star Quality Program.

State-Aligned Curriculum

Procare Solutions is partnering with Learning Beyond Paper to provide curriculum to our customers. No state approval is required, but you can be confident knowing your curriculum aligns to your state standards by implementing Procare Early Learning Powered by Learning Beyond Paper. This 100% digital curriculum addresses the needs of child care centers, daycares, preschools and early learning teachers. The curriculum provides 52 weeks of lesson plans that include learning tailored to seasons.

Assessments

Simplify the assessment process and meet Tennessee state standards with a unique early childhood assessment framework that makes clarity a key strength of your child care center’s assessments and communications.

Average Cost of Child Care in Tennessee

Understanding the cost of child care in Tennessee is important for both parents and child care providers. 

Annual Child Care Costs in Tennessee
An average child care center in Tennessee charges $11,511 per year.

Child Care Affordability in Tennessee

The median household spends 12% of their income to place a single child in center-based infant care.

View child care costs in other states.

Tennessee Professional Development Training Requirements 

In Tennessee it is required that early childhood professionals complete professional development training every fiscal year:  

  • Directors: 24 hours each fiscal year
  • Assistant Directors: 18 hours each fiscal year
  • Staff: 12 hours each fiscal year 

Training hours and continuing education units (CEUs) are documented in each person’s professional development record in the Tennessee Professional Archive of Learning (TNPAL). Be sure to create and manage your registry profile to track and document your training hours to comply with Tennessee state licensing requirements for ECE professionals. Visit the National Database of Child Care Regulations or Tennessee Department of Education to find licensing regulations and requirements in your state. 

Bertelsen Education, a Procare Solutions Company provides IACET-accredited courses that meet state licensing requirements. Visit BertelsenEducation.com to purchase. 

Professional Development Resources

Professional development programs are designed to encourage, support and recognize early childhood professionals seeking to expand their skills to raise the quality of their programs. View a list of professional development resources for child care providers here.