MNPS currently benefits from more than 410 business partners that contribute approximately 13,900 volunteer hours annually. Many of these long-standing partnerships have been highly impactful. For example, health care industry partners have worked diligently to address industry regulations and provide students with real-world experience. One example is Ascension, which collaborates with 4 MNPS high schools, offering instruction and content that allows students to become certified Medical Assistants. Ascension’s Health Scholars Program has spanned 10 years and is offered for students in the therapeutic services pathway in the Health Sciences Academy. Another example, HCA Healthcare, offers career-based learning, where health sciences students gain clinical experience, allowing them to graduate with an industry certification and eight months of work experience. While these programs and others are excelling, partnerships fluctuate annually in both engagement and commitment. A shortage of partners in some areas puts additional strain on active partners, who must step in to fill the gaps where engagement is low.
The committee visited two high schools with varying student populations, highlighting the need for partnerships that can scale to accommodate different sizes. Since the pandemic, Nashville has seen 21% population growth and 30% job growth, along with the issuance of 32,000 new business permits in Davidson County since 2020.
As Nashville’s industries and population continue to grow and evolve, so too do the relationships and needs of the Academies of Nashville and their business partners. To ensure these partnerships remain meaningful and sustainable, a comprehensive needs assessment should be conducted to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. As MNPS’s student demographics shift, these industry partnerships must evolve accordingly.
The Academies of Nashville Partnership Council, as outlined in its bylaws, is already positioned to oversee such an assessment. The Council is tasked with advising on the expertise and resources needed to ensure equitable access to opportunities, reviewing curriculum to ensure alignment with workforce trends, and championing high-wage, high-demand pathways for all students. However, to effectively conduct this comprehensive assessment and meet these evolving needs, additional resources and support must be provided to enable the Partnership Council to carry out this critical work in collaboration with the founding partners.
The founding partners should work through the Academies of Nashville Partnership Council to conduct a comprehensive assessment of business partner alignment. The Partnership Council, which is already tasked with advising on the resources needed for equitable access and ensuring curriculum alignment with workforce trends, should take the lead in this process. The assessment will identify which types of partnerships are missing or underrepresented, allowing for a targeted approach that reflects the diverse needs of each school. The Partnership Council should continue to conduct regular assessments to evaluate existing partnerships, determine what is working, and identify where gaps remain. This process should include an evaluation of opportunities to consolidate efforts, scale successful initiatives, and ensure alignment between labor market demands and career pathways.
The assessment of business partner alignment should also consider the valuable role of nonprofit organizations and community partners, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the support systems available to the Academies of Nashville. To strengthen the relationships between schools and industry partners, the analysis should evaluate the effectiveness of the current business engagement structure, identifying areas where additional support or resources could enhance collaboration. Recognizing the broad expertise within both business and community organizations, the assessment should explore opportunities to leverage these diverse strengths to further strengthen partnerships and better meet the needs of students.
The assessment should also recognize that industry partners bring expertise beyond their core business functions. For example, an engineering firm may have engineers, but also accountants, lawyers, and marketing professionals on staff. By evaluating the capacity of each industry partner, the analysis can identify opportunities for collaboration, ensuring that areas of expertise not currently addressed by one partner can be supported by others. Once the assessment is complete, founding partners should prioritize addressing gaps across the schools.
Nashville offers unparalleled opportunities for businesses to make a meaningful impact. If you’re inspired by this report and eager to contribute to shaping the future workforce, we encourage you to become an academy partner. Visit this website to learn more and get connected.
