In Tennessee, 2,249 children under the age of three are enrolled in Early Head Start programs, and 21 percent of 4-year-olds are enrolled in a state-funded early learning program. The persistence of education reformers in Nashville and Memphis, paired with the vocal support of lawmakers such as U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, is paying off. Tennessee holds its position among the top tier of states with high-quality pre-K programs. The state meets nine out of 10 quality benchmarks for early childhood education standards, and has introduced plans for further improvement. Additionally, the average annual cost of center-based infant care in the state is amongst the lowest in the country at $5,857.