Early Childhood Education Resources for Families

This page provides resources for all families ranging from information on child development and learning, to how to find good quality child care. School systems begin to serve children at age 5.

Special Needs--If a child is delayed in development or has a disability, early intervention services can benefit you and your child. Early intervention services are available for qualified children from birth to 3 years, when school systems begin to serve children with special needs. See especially Tennessee Early Intervention System below. Children may receive services at home, in community child care centers serving children with and without disabilities, in Head Start programs, and in early intervention programs.

Middle Tennessee        Tennessee        National

Middle Tennessee Resources

• Head Start, a program of Metro Action Commission, Metro Nashville Government, provides early childhood education. This site states family income eligibility guidelines and shows center locations.

Tennessee Resources

• Stand for Children America's only nationwide grassroots voice for children, takes action at the national, state, community, and neighborhood levels on issues such as early childhood education, schools and after-school programs, and health services. (615) 972-0765
• Tennessee Child Care Services, a Web site maintained by the Tennessee Department of Human Services, provides:

Child Care Resource and Referral - A free statewide service to obtain customized child care listings, literature, and counseling on quality child care. Call 800-462-8261 or 615-313-4820 (Nashville area).

Child Care Provider List by region

Jumpstart Their Future, which gives parents tips on identifying quality child care.

Child Care Resource Centers, a network of 11 centers statewide to help child care providers improve their child care practices, to encourage them to include children with disabilities in their programs, and to improve the health outcomes of children entrusted to their care.

• Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) 800-852-7157
  TEIS is a free service. It includes information, referral, and continuing support for children, birth to age three, with special needs and their families. TEIS helps with referrals for both developmental and health care needs.
  
  
• Tennessee Family Pathfinder, a gateway site for Tennessee disability services, provides information on Early Education, Education for School-Age Children, Child Care, and Respite Care, as well as Health Care and other topics.

National Resources

• Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education links to Publications, Popular Topics, Questions, Search, and news items.
• The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provides resources for parents.
• National Center for Early Development and Learning focuses on enhancing the cognitive, social, and emotional development of children from birth through 8 years.
• National Parent Information Network provides research-based information about the process of parenting, and about family involvement in education.
• Zero to Three is the nation's leading resource on the first three years of life. The site provides information for parents, which includes Parenting A to Z, Tip of the Week, BrainWonders, and more.

Week of the Young Child | Vanderbilt Kennedy Center

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