Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance

Research shows that quality early childhood education plays an important role in preparing children to enter school ready to learn.  The key to qualiy programs is the preparation of personnel with whom young children spend a significant portion of their time.

The Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance represents the first statewide early childhood training and professional recognition system in the nation administered by higher educaiton to include orientation training through advanced degree programs.  The TECTA statewide training system is based upon the belief that early childhood education personnel need professional knowledge and skills to provide appropriate care for young children.  The primary goal is improving the quality of early childhood education by providing articulated preparation programs.

TECTA classes involve child care providers, higher education, professional associations, state agencies, the business community and parents.

Coursework is based upon national standards for preparation of professional early childhood personnel. The  program provides articulation between post-secondary certificate and degree programs when students meet higher education admission requirements.

There are consortia of higher education institutions that serve child care providers in all ninety-five Tennessee counties.  TECTA is supported by the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Management, training and technical assistance are provided by Tennessee State University Center of Excellence for Learning Sciences. The TECTA State Management Office is located in Suite 1B of the Research and Sponsored Programs Building on the main campus of Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. 

_{This Project is funded by the Center of Excellence for Learning Sciences at Tennessee State University through a contract with the Tennessee Department of Human Services.}

TECTA at APSU 2016-2017
By the Numbers