Our History

The Nashville Public Education Foundation has been rallying the community behind our public schools since 2002, working to ensure that every child in Nashville thrives in our schools every day.

2002

NPEF is founded

The Nashville Alliance for Public Education is founded, later renamed the Nashville Public Education Foundation.

2005
First Public Schools Hall of Fame

First Public Schools Hall of Fame

NPEF hosts the first Public Schools Hall of Fame at Hume-Fogg High School, marking the 150th anniversary of public education in Nashville.

2008
NPEF creates the Martin Professional Development Center

NPEF creates the Martin Professional Development Center

NPEF secures key donor and district support for the creation of the Martin Professional Development Center for MNPS teachers.

2015
Project RESET

Project RESET

Project RESET, an NPEF initiative to gather community feedback on education, helps the city set new data-driven priorities for the future of our public schools.

2017
NPEF convenes partners to develop Blueprint report

NPEF convenes partners to develop Blueprint report

NPEF facilitates a months-long series of meetings with key city leaders and stakeholders on the prioritization of early childhood education and recommendations for citywide action to produce the Blueprint for Early Childhood Success.

2018
NPEF Releases First Bridge to Completion Report

NPEF Releases First Bridge to Completion Report

NPEF partners with the Tennessee College Access and Success Network and Metro Nashville Public Schools to analyze college-going data for MNPS graduates in order to identify trends and barriers and make recommendations for change.

2019

NPEF Launches Revised Strategic Plan

NPEF creates a new strategic plan centered around the vision of what it would be like if every child in Nashville were thriving in our schools every day.

2019
Thriving Schools Framework

Thriving Schools Framework

NPEF creates the research-based Thriving Schools Framework exploring the conditions necessary to create schools where all students thrive and explaining how the presence of these conditions leads to increased student performance and agency.

2020

NPEF Addresses Needs Exacerbated by COVID-19

With the surge of the coronavirus pandemic and schools moving to virtual learning, NPEF partnered with Metro Nashville Public Schools and other community organizations to address the digital divide by providing technology and expanding wireless internet access so all students could thrive in distance learning.

2021
NPEF Releases Documentary on Nashville’s Schools

NPEF Releases Documentary on Nashville’s Schools

NPEF produces “By Design: The Shaping of Nashville’s Public Schools,” an hour-long film examining historical moments of public schools in Nashville dating back to the 1800s intended to generate awareness and stimulate policy solutions for a better public school system where all students thrive.