Education: How YPs Can Help Metro Keep Control
In 2002, the federal government passed the No Child Left Behind Act to improve our nation's school systems and ensure the best education for our youth. This law requires all schools to perform at 100 percent by the 2013-2014 school year. There are four ways in which schools will be affected: The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is currently working closely with Mayor Karl Dean and Tennessee government to improve Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. The Chamber's recently released 15th annual Education Report Card, which overviews the 2006-2007 school year, says:

"We now live in a high-stakes accountability era defined by the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law ... MNPS is one of only two school systems in the state to be placed in 'Corrective Action,' having failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress as a district four out of the last five years. This status has resulted in a shared management of MNPS with officials from the Tennessee Department of Education. Greater state direction will happen should MNPS continue to miss NCLB targets. Put simply, the people of Nashville are in danger of losing control of their schools."
The Report Card also states that progress is needed in two key areas: training/recruitment/retention of talented teachers and the need for complete parental and community involvement.

The majority of young professionals in the Metro Nashville area either have small children or are not far from starting families. Education plays a key role in the recruitment of more YPs to this area. As YPs who are already living and flourishing in this area, your involvement with Metro Public Schools is crucial. Below are a few ways you can become educated and involved with the issues and improvement of Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Read Me Week 2008 (Feb. 23-March 2)
Hands On Nashville
PENCIL Foundation
Become a tutor