MNPS to check on absent students during virtual learning

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — With Metro Nashville Public Schools students all returning to virtual learning next week due to COVID-19 concerns, the school district has a new role for navigators to make sure students are actually logging on.

The district says each school will have a set number of navigators to check up on students once a week. They are tasked with the job of finding students that either never showed up or have multiple absences during virtual learning.

Administrators put this number at 4,000 at the beginning of the year, and two weeks after that, they were down to 1,500 students.

“We're at the point now where we want to go community by community in a safe way and make certain that we are double and triple checking on students and families and asking what their needs are,” said Ashford Hughes with MNPS.

“We've had staff going to the well-known areas, housing developments and knocking on doors of hotels... we're trying to do our best to determine where they are,” said Christiane Buggs, Metro Nashville School Board Chair.

All Metro students will be returning to virtual learning after Thanksgiving and staying virtual until at least December 17.