Education

Education

Overview

Education is crucial to the success of our citizens, our businesses, and our county. When a community is dedicated to improving the education levels of its people, that community becomes equipped with priceless talents: skilled workers, engineers, and medical professionals to name a few. In return for their education, these people often choose to stay in and near their communities, which makes the whole area stronger. Thus, the Chamber is proud to provide details into how our community's education system is being improved, both with and without our support.

Broadly speaking, everyone in Warren County supports the nationwide Ready for Kindergarten program, which prepares students to enter the education system. The system they enter here complies with all regional standards: all of our community's public schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Those are overarching concepts, though; we believe what matters just as much if not more are the details, the specifics of how education is being developed and improved. Below is a sampling of programs that are supported by various institutions in Warren County, including the Chamber.

Programs

Read Twenty - Good reading skills are vital to possess in the modern world: they improve both cognitive and social functions. Read Twenty promotes the idea that children should be read to from birth and learn to read well quickly, and that this can be done in as little as twenty minutes per day. This program provides books to low-income families and recruits volunteers to read to children.

Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTO) - By its very nature, education is a cooperative process: parents allow their children to go to school, where they learn alongside their peers and from a teacher, who went through the same process. For this reason, it seems appropriate that parents and teachers should have an official avenue of communication. PTOs aim to create a productive and collaborative environment in which concerns, questions, and ideas for our education system can be raised and resolved.

Citizens for Progress (CFP) - The Chamber's Business Roundtable Action Committee (BRAC) places high value on education. Nearly a decade ago, BRAC created a scholarship to assist a variety of students, from traditional, full-time students attending Motlow State Community College to non-traditional, technical students attending TCAT. Over the duration of its existence, CFP has provided almost $400,000 in funding for the educational goals of all kinds of students.

The advent of Tennessee Promise means that CFP will no longer have to provide as much funding for traditional students. After the budget has been redistributed, CFP likely will be able to assist and increased number of students attending TCAT.

Tennessee Promise - Beginning with the graduating class of 2015, this state scholarship and mentoring program, provided requirements are met, will support graduates by paying their tuition when they pursue an associate's degree. This is an amazing opportunity that will catapult our state into a new realm of success, and we encourage all students to take advantage of this program. Students can use the scholarship at any of the state's 13 community colleges, 27 colleges of applied technology, or any other eligible institutions offering an associate's degree program. To learn more contact your High School's guidance counselor or visit http://tennesseepromise.gov/.

Colleges

Because of its location, Warren County has quick access to many educational institutions, ranging from the community college located near the heart of the county to universities in Nashville, Murfreesboro, Cookeville, and many other cities.

Motlow State Community College - Many graduates and residents opt to attend Motlow because of its location and affordability. Motlow is a two-year, open-door college that offers both basic and career-oriented classes. Course offerings include English, Accounting, Math, Computer Science, and History. Motlow’s McMinnville campus now offers a fast-track degree program in general studies that is transferable to a four-year institution. For more information, click here.

The Tennessee College of Applied Technology - For people wishing to pursue a technical career, the TCAT campus in McMinnville provides students with specialized education and workshops that give them the skills for immediate job placement. TCAT offers a variety of technical training, including Industrial Maintenance/Mechatronics, Auto Technology, Computer Information Technology, Industrial Electricity, Machine Tool Technology, Practical Nursing, and Welding.

For graduates of Warren County High School who choose to leave the county for their education, the most popular institutions are public state universities, such as TTU and MTSU. However, graduates also attend many different private universities such as Lipscomb, Sewanee, and Vanderbilt. Below is a list of some of the universities located within a 100 mile radius of McMinnville, but for a full list, follow this link.