NASHVILLE – Employment rights and benefits for the state’s pre-K teachers vary based on the entity that employs them, according to a report released today by the Comptroller of the Treasury’s Office of Education Accountability. The Office of Education Accountability prepared the report in response to a resolution passed last year by the Tennessee General Assembly.
Just over 90 percent of the state’s pre-K teachers are school district employees, and their rights and benefits appear equal to the K-12 teachers in their district. In contrast, employment rights and benefits for those pre-K teachers not employed by a school system may differ from the K-12 teachers in their districts. Results of a survey of state-funded pre-K coordinators reveal that approximately 10 percent of respondents either reported differences in pre-K teachers’ rights or benefits or identified recruitment or retention issues related to compensation (including salary and benefits).
The report notes the number of pre-K teachers not employed by a school system is comparatively small (88 out of 934 teachers). However, the report states that policymakers at the state and local level may wish to consider whether pre-K teachers not employed by a school system should be provided the same employment rights and benefits as K-12 teachers. The report also mentions that the General Assembly may wish to consider a review of relevant statutes, rules, and regulations to determine the appropriateness of standardizing references to pre-K programs, teachers, and/or staff.
The report recommends that the Department of Education’s Office of Early Learning examine the report’s survey results in reference to their oversight of the state’s pre-K programs.

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