Building on overwhelming public support and the growing body of research highlighting the economic benefits of early childhood education, Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) and Rep. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) have reintroduced their landmark legislation to make pre-kindergarten free and accessible for all four-year-olds statewide. The proposed bill underscores the lawmakers’ commitment to alleviating financial burdens on working families while setting a strong educational foundation for Tennessee’s youngest learners.
“Every child deserves access to a great education and universal pre-K is the best way to ensure that opportunity begins at the earliest stages of learning,” said Sen. Oliver, a working mother of three. “This isn’t just an investment in our kids. It’s an economic lifeline for working families. Universal pre-K reduces childcare costs, boosts family incomes, and strengthens Tennessee’s workforce. It’s time to deliver real relief to families who are stretched too thin.”
Rep. Behn echoed Oliver’s sentiment, emphasizing the financial advantages for families and the long-term economic gains for the state.
“Working families are the backbone of Tennessee, but far too many struggle to afford high-quality preschool for their children,” said Rep. Behn. “This legislation cuts costs, gives families a raise, and ensures every child gets a strong start in life. The research is clear. When families have access to free pre-K, parents can work more, earn more, and build a more secure future for their children. It’s a win for families, businesses, and the state economy.”
New research from the National Bureau of Economic Research underscores the transformative impact of universal pre-K on working families. According to their findings, universal pre-K reduces preschool costs, increases parental earnings by 21.7%, and generates $5.51 in after-tax benefits for families for every dollar spent on the program. These economic benefits persist for at least six years after children complete pre-K.
Unfortunately pre-K, and these economic benefits, are out of reach for most Tennessee families due to the limited scope of Tennessee’s current voluntary pre-K program, which prioritizes children from income-eligible families, children with disabilities, and those of parents who died in war.
Despite classrooms in 137 of the state’s 142 school districts, only 20% of Tennessee’s four-year-olds are enrolled in state pre-K, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research.
Oliver and Behn’s legislation aims to address these gaps by requiring every school district to offer pre-kindergarten programs for all four-year-olds, with enrollment remaining optional for families.
The new universal pre-K program will continue utilizing current state and local funding. And to ensure the cost of expanding access to these pre-K programs does not burden taxpayers, the legislation proposes a novel funding mechanism: a 9.5% privilege tax on social media advertising deployed by big tech firms that harvest user data in Tennessee.
This tax on social media revenue is projected to fully fund the state’s expansion to universal pre-K while also holding corporations accountable for profiting from Tennesseans’ personal data.
Oliver and Behn introduced a similar bill last year, but House Republicans blocked the effort. The lawmakers are optimistic that growing public support and the clear economic advantages of universal pre-K will drive bipartisan backing this session.
“We hear from families every day who are desperate for solutions,” said Oliver. “This bill is about listening to those families and making decisions that benefit everyone—not just the wealthiest among us.”
“Tennessee families need us to act,” said Behn. “We’re bringing this bill back stronger than ever because it’s not just the right thing to do. It’s what the future of our state demands.”
If enacted, the legislation would position Tennessee as a leader in early childhood education and economic innovation, benefiting families across the state for generations to come.
