7.2 Use of Quality Set-Aside Funds

Lead Agencies must use a portion of their CCDF expenditures for activities designed to improve the quality of child care services and to increase parental options for and access to high-quality child care. They must use the quality set-aside funds on at least one of 10 activities described in CCDF and the quality activities must be aligned with a Statewide or Territory-wide assessment of the State's or Territory’s need to carry out such services and care. 7.2.1 Quality improvement activities a. Describe how the Lead Agency will make its Quality Progress Report (ACF – 218) and expenditure reports, available to the public. Provide a link if available. The Lead Agency posts the ACF-218 Quality Progress Report, expenditure reporting, and annual aggregate data for Tennessee to its website at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/information-and- resources/tdhs-reports-and-information.html. b. Identify Lead Agency plans, if any, to spend CCDF funds for each of the following quality improvement activities. If an activity is checked “yes”, describe the Lead Agency’s current and/or future plans for this activity. i. Supporting the training and professional development of the child care workforce, including birth to five and school-age providers. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency continues investments described at 6.2.2 and 6.2.3 in the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA), a statewide training and professional recognition system administered by the Tennessee State University Center of Excellence for Learning Sciences that serves as the Lead Agency’s early care and education professional development hub. The TECTA Professional Development System utilizes the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards for Professional Preparation as its framework for curriculum and training design. The Lead Agency is implementing a statewide strategy leveraging a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) model developed by TECTA to increase the supply and capacity of early childhood education, improve child care program quality, and support early care and education professionals and employers. The TECTA Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program (TECAP) is a paid RAP designed to increase education and training opportunities for current and emerging child care workforce. This career pathway is defined by the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA). Child care programs licensed by the Lead Agency that meet the RAP requirements are eligible to participate. Each apprentice is assigned an experienced mentor teacher who has the same or higher education certification/degree. The mentor must complete training, meet with the apprentice for an hour each week, attend coaching meetings, document the apprentice’s progress, and serve as a role model to help connect theory to practice on the job. The Lead agency is continuing investments in training and professional development through programs and services delivered by the Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R) as described at 8.3.1. The Lead Agency continues to enhance training and professional development for the early care and education workforce with the Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee (AIMHITN), supporting the Lead Agency and other CCDF Quality Child Care Partners through professional development and technical assistance in reflective practices, belonging, and professional pathways training. AIMHITN collaboratively supports the Tennessee Infant and Toddler Credential, ITCS, and other professional development opportunities by infusing training content with Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) standards, i.e., behavior awareness, disability awareness, etc. AIMHITN offers the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® pathways. The Lead Agency continues to offer the Child Care WAGE$® Tennessee, an education-based salary supplement program for early care and education professionals employed by child care providers licensed by the Lead Agency. The program provides eligible educators an annual award, issued in two parts, based on specific qualifications and employment retention criteria. ii. Developing, maintaining, or implementing early learning and developmental guidelines. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency collaborates with the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and other early care and education partners in the development of Tennessee Early Childhood Education Early Learning Developmental Standards (TN-ELDS), the early learning and developmental guidelines adopted by the Tennessee State Board of Education. TN-ELDS are embedded in a variety of approaches to preparation, classroom practice, and ongoing training and professional development for the early care and education workforce. The Lead Agency and its CCDF Quality Child Care Partners, including the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) and Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R), ensure TN- ELDS are included in higher education coursework, training, technical assistance services delivered to early care and education practitioners, classroom instruction, and quality improvement supports. iii. Developing, implementing, or enhancing a quality improvement system. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency is implementing and may make enhancements to its new Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) ensuring families and child care providers experience a streamlined and integrated system that is both simple and clear, focused on improving child outcomes, and measuring meaningful indicators of quality early childhood education. iv. Improving the supply and quality of child care services for infants and toddlers. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency is continuing to provide support for this category of activities through partnership initiatives with our CCDF Quality Child Care Partners. Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) offers the Tennessee Infant and Toddler Credential as a professional development pathway for infant and toddler early childhood professionals. The Tennessee Infant and Toddler Credential is awarded upon completion of the Infant Toddler Credential Academy facilitated by TECTA instructors and features course content, reflective discussions, and cohort activities supplemented by Tennessee Child Care Resources and Referral Network (CCR&R) coaches, technical assistance, and training and professional development. TECTA also provides training and professional development support for early childhood educators and administrators focusing on strengthening program quality while increasing capacity for infant and toddler programs and services through the center-based Infant-Toddler Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential. CCR&R provides the Infant and Toddler Care Specialization (ITCS), an additional pathway to quality professional development for educators who want to deepen their knowledge but either are not ready for college coursework or do not qualify for the Tennessee Infant and Toddler Credential. The specialization is a series of formal and informal training opportunities, classroom materials to support topics and improve practices, and academic resources to help increase the knowledge base of educators. CCR&R identifies select child care centers that are established and demonstrate high-quality practices and care for infants and toddlers as Infant Toddler Demonstration Sites, which are used by educators who complete ITCS to observe classroom and center-based infant and toddler group care practices. CCR&R will continue delivering training, technical assistance, and intensive coaching through its statewide team of specialized Infant and Toddler Quality Coaches. The Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee (AIMHITN) supports the Lead Agency and other CCDF Quality Child Care Partners through professional development and technical assistance in reflective practices, belonging, and professional pathways training. AIMHITN collaboratively supports the Tennessee Infant and Toddler Credential, ITCS, and other professional development opportunities by infusing training content with Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) standards, i.e., behavior awareness, inclusion, reflective practice, self-regulation, etc. AIMHITN has developed training and tools that contribute to the well-being of children, families, and the early care and education workforce, i.e., multi-lingual emergency response toolkits that promote trauma-informed care when responding and recovering from disasters. AIMHITN also offers Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® pathways and Reflective Supervision and Consultation supports for the early care and education workforce as well as Lead Agency and CCDF Quality Child Care Partners staff. The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) administers support and enhancement grant funds for providers whose educators complete ITCS. Grant funds may be used to purchase equipment and program enhancements that would improve their infant and toddler classrooms and programs. The Lead Agency is exploring potential opportunities for partnership and supports in this category of activities. v. Establishing or expanding a statewide system of CCR&R services. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency is broadening supports available from the Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R) for programs and services to families, child care providers, and the early care and education workforce. Additional targeted investments to strengthen support for child care providers have introduced the creation of Literacy coaches, Language Support quality coaches and Quality Rating and Improvement quality coaches. To further strengthen business practices and improve supports available to new and potential child care providers during the Lead Agency’s pre-licensure process, CCR&R has expanded the number of Small Business Support Specialists and introduced an Administration Specialization pathway to quality professional development for child care owners, administrators, and directors who want to deepen their knowledge but either are not ready for college coursework or do not qualify for the Tennessee Early Childhood Program Administrator Credential. The specialization is a series of formal and informal training opportunities supported by resources to and improve administrative practice and business resources to help increase the knowledge base of owners, administrators, and directors. CCR&R has also expanded services supporting child care provider emergency preparedness and response planning, including the introduction of new trainings aligned with CCDBG requirements, review of child care providers emergency preparedness and response plans, and participation in cross-sector initiatives with other CCDF Quality Child Care Partners, e.g., Tennessee Children in Disaster Task Force, AIMHITN Social Emotional Emergency Response Team (SEER), etc. CCR&R will continue delivering Tech Goes Home Tennessee, a program designed to reduce the digital divide and support a system of high-quality early care and education through training, technical assistance, and technology incentives and services. Previously funded with ARP funds, Tech Goes Home Tennessee will continue to be offered using CCDF funds. CCR&R administers the Tennessee Family Child Care Network (TFCCN), a statewide network providing supports for family and group home child care providers. TFCCN leverages training, technical assistance, and intensive coaching and peer-to-peer mentoring to assure successful application of skills and knowledge and delivery of high-quality child care. TFCCN coaches also provide support family and group home child care providers with meeting requirements for the non-academic Family Child Care Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential. CCR&R will support the Lead Agency with initiatives improving the supply and quality of child care programs, including initiatives to expand access. vi. Facilitating compliance with Lead Agency child care licensing, monitoring, inspection and health and safety standards. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x]Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency supports compliance with standards by covering the costs of such necessary health and safety components as background checks, fire inspections, environmental inspections, and immunization audits. Additionally, the Lead Agency provides access to free training, technical assistance, coaching, and peer mentoring through grants and contracts with its CCDF Quality Child Care Partners to further support and empower providers with achieving and maintaining compliance. To promote safe environments for children, both training and certification in pediatric and age appropriate First Aid and CPR is available to staff of child care providers licensed by the Lead Agency at no cost through the Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R). The Lead Agency also implements grant initiatives administered by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to provide support and enhancement grants that seek to increase capacity, strengthen quality, and/or promote compliance with Lead Agency licensing standards for child care providers. Grants support such items as equipment, program enhancements, including supplies, and consultant and coaching services. vii. Evaluating and assessing the quality and effectiveness of child care services within the State/Territory. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency is implementing and may make enhancements to its new Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) ensuring families and child care providers experience a streamlined and integrated system that is both simple and clear, focused on improving child outcomes, and measuring meaningful indicators of quality early childhood education. The Lead Agency continually evaluates indicators and measurements related to quality and evaluates efficacy of programs and services delivered by its CCDF Quality Child Care Partners that support quality, e.g., training, technical assistance, intensive coaching, etc., in addition to evaluating Lead Agency workload distribution and resource allocation. viii. Accreditation support. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency is continuing to provide accreditation support for child care providers through partnership initiatives with our CCDF Quality Child Care Partners. The Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) at Tennessee State University offers the Tennessee Early Childhood Program Administrator Credential to early childhood directors who demonstrate specific competencies for effective leadership and management through academics, experience, and a portfolio assessment using a framework designed around NAEYC Standards for Professional Development. TECTA offers training, coaching, and support for accreditation fees and materials to mitigate financial barriers to providers seeking national accreditation. Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R), which administers the Tennessee Family Child Care Network (TFCCN), similarly offers training, coaching, and support for accreditation fees and materials for family and group providers licensed by the Lead Agency seeking national accreditation. The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) administers support and enhancement grant funds for providers purchasing classroom items helping in the pursuit of national accreditation. The Lead Agency is exploring potential opportunities for partnership and supports in this category of activities. ix. Supporting State/Territory or local efforts to develop high-quality program standards relating to health, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, and physical development. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. he Lead Agency works collaboratively with the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), CCDF Quality Child Care Partners, and other organizations to strengthen training in support of high-quality program standards relating to health, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, and physical development. The Lead Agency established standards that promote the health, safety, development, and overall well-being of children in its most recent promulgation of licensure rules in June 2022. Tennessee ranked first on high-impact obesity prevention standards in the Achieving a State of Health Weight 2022 Annual Report by the University of Colorado College of Nursing published in 2023. x. Other activities determined by the Lead Agency to improve the quality of child care services and the measurement of outcomes related to improved provider preparedness, child safety, child well-being, or kindergarten entry. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency collaborates with the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and other early care and education partners in the development of Tennessee Early Childhood Education Early Learning Developmental Standards (TN-ELDS), the early learning and developmental guidelines adopted by the Tennessee State Board of Education. TN-ELDS are embedded in a variety of approaches to preparation, classroom practice, and ongoing training and professional development for the early care and education workforce. The Lead Agency and its CCDF Quality Child Care Partners, including the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) and Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R), ensure TN- ELDS are included in higher education coursework, training, technical assistance services delivered to early care and education practitioners, classroom instruction, and quality improvement supports. 8 Lead Agency Coordination and Partnerships to Support Service Delivery Coordination and partnerships help ensure that the Lead Agency’s efforts accomplish CCDF goals effectively, leverage other resources, and avoid duplication of effort. Such coordination and partnerships can help families better access child care, can assist in providing consumer education to parents, and can be used to improve child care quality and the stability of child care providers. Such coordination can also be particularly helpful in the aftermath of disasters when the provision of emergency child care services and the rebuilding and restoring of child care infrastructure are an essential part of ensuring the well-being of children and families in recovering communities. This section identifies who the Lead Agency collaborates with to implement services, how match and maintenance-of-effort (MOE) funds are used, coordination with child care resource and referral (CCR&R) systems, and efforts for disaster preparedness and response plans to support continuity of operations in response to emergencies.