By Ashley Perham in Main Street Nashville

What do teachers, college students, a state legislator, a New York City resident and a retired Belmont professor have in common?

They’re all tutoring students from Metro Nashville Public Schools through the Accelerating Scholars program.

The program was created last fall to help overcome learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic. Although state testing scores increased from last year, still only 27% of MNPS third graders are on or above their grade reading level.

Last fall, 1,200 tutors spent time working with students on reading and math skills. In the spring, the number of tutors increased to 1,800. This year, the district is looking for tutors for 7,000 students, up from 3,000 students last year.

By Joylyn Bukovac – WSMV News

Nashville public schools are working to prepare students for their return to the classroom this month.

Some students fell behind when classes went virtual and are trying to catch up.

People all over the country can volunteer to help those students through the Accelerating Scholars program.

Metro Nashville Public Schools is working to recruit 2,000 community volunteer tutors for more than 7,000 students that need a little extra help.

MNPS needs tutors who can help elementary students with reading or help middle school and high school students with math.

The volunteer tutors are required to virtually help students for 30 minutes, three times per week.

With the sessions being virtual, it does not matter where the tutor is located.

One volunteer tutor, Genna Margolis, lives in New York and works as an attorney. She says it was fulfilling to help her student fall in love with reading and learning.

“I sent him some books and puzzles to do during the summer because I didn’t want him to lag behind and forget everything,” Margolis said. “…he made this beautiful card for me. It was just so touching, what he wrote.”

Volunteer tutors do not need an education background or any prior experience. Training is provided for all volunteers before they are paired with a student.

Staff Report in Main Street Nashville

Main Street Nashville – To help Nashville students accelerate learning and close learning gaps in reading and math, Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) is working with PENCIL, Vanderbilt’s Tutor Nashville and other organizations across the community to expand the district’s successful high-impact tutoring program this fall.

The Accelerating Scholars program is actively recruiting community volunteers to tutor up to 7,000 MNPS students who need a little extra one-on-one help and personalized support, especially in elementary reading or middle school and high school math.

“The goal of our Every Student Known initiative is to meet the needs of each individual student, and volunteer tutors through our Accelerating Scholars program are making a huge difference for students who need a little extra time and attention, especially in reading and math,” MNPS Director of Schools Dr. Adrienne Battle said in a news release. “We hope volunteers all across the community will answer the call and help us accelerate learning for Nashville’s next generation of students this fall.”

Volunteer mentors will be matched with students based on the volunteer’s availability to provide support in three 30-minute long virtual tutoring sessions every week for 10 weeks during the fall semester. Session times will take place during the regular school day or during structured before or after-school programming beginning in September 2022. 

Tutors will receive training and support from MNPS, PENCIL and Tutor Nashville on content, the virtual platform tutors and students will use and how to structure a virtual learning session. 

Sign up today at AcceleratingScholars.org. A few hours each week could make a lifetime of difference in the lives of Nashville’s students. 

Additional information about the Accelerating Scholars Program can be found at https://mnps.org/learn/supporting_our_students/accelerating_scholars.