RESOLUTION NO. RS2003-1374

A resolution requesting the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to ensure that any authorized state lottery program is designed so that from the first year of existence a designated amount of the anticipated lottery revenues will be allocated to provide quality early childhood education for four year old children in poverty.


Whereas, November 5, 2002 the Tennessee Constitution was amended to allow the legislature to authorize, implement and administer a state lottery. Such appropriations are to be used to fund assistance to enable citizens to attend post-secondary institutions located within this state; early learning programs and after school programs; and capital projects for k-12 education facilities; and

Whereas, in Tennessee it is estimated that 38,000 four year old children are at risk of school failure because of low family income; and

Whereas, Poverty’s impact is reflected in the achievement test scores of Tennessee’s elementary students. Research studies consistently report that high quality pre-school programs result in the following:

• Increased IQ scores
• Reduced referrals to special education
• Decreased grade repetition
• Increased high school graduation rates
• Increased scores on standardized tests
• Increased completion of higher education
• Improvement in educational and socioeconomic status of the mother
• Decreased out-of-wedlock births, and
• Increased economic well being in adulthood.

Whereas, Tennessee’s State Board of Education Plan for early childhood education programs insures quality by requiring:

• A licensed teacher, endorsed in early childhood education.
• A teacher assistant who holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate or higher.
• A Maximum class size of 20 four-year-old students.
• A low adult:child ratio of 1:10 for 4 .
• An educational program that is designed to enhance growth in all areas; cognition, language development, social-emotional development, and motor development.

Whereas, In 1996, the 99th General Assembly adopted legislation for creation of the Tennessee Early Childhood Education Pilot Program based on this Plan. In 1998, Tennessee’s first students to participate in the Tennessee Early Childhood Education Pilot Program using the State Board Plan had only a partial year of pre-kindergarten yet scored significantly higher than their socioeconomic peers who had no quality pre-kindergarten experience; and

Whereas, At-risk students who participated in a full year of preschool: scored significantly higher than their socioeconomic peers without preschool
and scored higher than the state average for all students; and

Whereas, 58% of the public school students in Davidson County are eligible for free and reduced lunches, an accepted indicator of poverty including over 4, 200 four year olds who are currently at risk of not having the skills necessary to be “ready” for school; and

Whereas, the research indicates without a quality preschool experience, children from low income backgrounds face a bleak future. Of an average kindergarten class of 20: 11 children will repeat one or more grades; 9 children will be identified in need of special education with an IQ of <85; 7 children will be destined to commit 5 or more crimes and require incarceration; 16 children will not have the skills necessary for post secondary education and 11 children will not graduate from high school.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council herby goes on record as requesting the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to ensure that any authorized lottery is designed in such a manner as to ensure that a designated portion of the lottery will be available to fund early childhood education programs for those most at risk four year olds. Further such programs must adhere to the Tennessee State Board of Education Policies and Guidelines for early childhood education programs.

Section 2. That the Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to each member of the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly.

Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Bob Bogen, Carolyn Baldwin Tucker