Mayor Megan Barry and Metro Nashville School Director Dr. Shawn Joseph have set out to solve the city's third-grade literacy crisis with a new initiative.
Two thirds of Metro's third graders do not read on grade level, which is why Barry and Joseph along with the Nashville Literacy Collaborative have put together 29 new recommendations in its "Blueprint for Early Childhood Success."
It aims to double grade level readers by 20-25 by focusing on kids from birth until three years old as that's when their brains develop most.
"We've got to call it out for what it is. It is an injustice for kids who don't read on grade level particularly because we can do something about it."
Nashville Public Library will pilot some of those programs in six schools next year.
