October 12, 2021 Cooper Moran

Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) and Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College are partnering to address ‘educational inequities’ in the Nashville area.

According to the two groups, the project will have the goal of “producing actionable, innovative and scalable research to address racial and social inequities in pre-K-12 schools.”

Specifically, Vanderbilt University will offer the public school system resources and research opportunities with the goal of improving outcomes for students.

“The roots of educational inequities in our city are complex and multi-faceted. Enduring challenges have only been compounded by COVID-19 and our city’s recent growth. These are issues that defy easy answers. But together, we can start to address them through rigorous research and collaboration. Drawing on data and history, we can find new ways to improve access and belonging and to reduce disparities in educational outcomes. And we can create new pathways and opportunities for the students of today, who are also Nashville’s future citizens and leaders,” Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said.

However, the precise actions of the new, broad partnership, entitled Nashville Partnership for Educational Equity Research, will be developed as the partnership continues, as the groups will work together to determine the best approach.

While it is unclear what specific actions the partnership will produce, the agenda of the partnership will be determined by a “steering committee,” composed of Vanderbilt and MNPS officials.

“We are all aware of the issues faced by public schools in Nashville and throughout the country relating to disproportionality and inequities for academic and social-emotional learning outcomes,” MNPS Director of Schools Adrienne Battle said. “Identifying the most effective solutions to eliminate those inequities represents the most difficult challenge we face—but also the biggest reward if we’re successful.”

This is not the first time the two organizations have worked closely. In the past, Vanderbilt students have offered tutoring services to students in MNPS.

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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to cooperreports@gmail.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL ARTICLES

https://tennesseestar.com/2021/10/12/metro-nashville-public-schools-partner-with-vanderbilt-university-to-address-educational-inequities/