*Professional Education; State Standards; Student Evaluation; *Teacher Certification; Teacher Qualifications

IDENTIFIERS *State Regulation;- *Tennessee This article presents an overview and analysis of the newly approved Tennessee early childhood teacher licensure standards. An introductory section provides background information on educational trends involved in efforts to revise state standards for licensing teachers. The general structure)f the license is presented and four distinguishing characteristics ale discussed. They are: (1) increased emphasis on the development of children from conception through their eighth year; (2) strong emphasis on family and community involvement; (3) pervasive emphasis on teacher knowledge and skills related to observation and assessment of children; and (4) the integration of teacher communication, assessment, and parent relation skills. The major part of the document consists of the official public statements setting forth Tennessee's early childhood education teacher licensure standards and related guidelines, both of which are appended. Standards concern licensure and teacher competencies regardin7 general, professional, and early childhood education in the areas of human growth, development, and learning; family and community involvement; the planning and facilitating of development; comm,mication and language arts; reading; mathematics; social studies and history; science; foreign language; health and safety; physical education; and arts education. (RH) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. tD PS