Nashville Launches Kinderbox Program to Support Kindergarten Readiness

Metro Nashville Public Schools has launched a new initiative to help incoming kindergarteners begin the school year with confidence and essential supplies. Through a collaboration with the nonprofit organization PENCIL, the district is distributing “Kinderbox” kits to classrooms ahead of the first day of school.

Each Kinderbox contains foundational school supplies such as crayons, pencils, glue sticks, and other materials designed to support early learning. The initiative aims to ensure every kindergartener has the tools needed for a strong and seamless transition into the classroom environment.

Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle emphasized that the program is designed to ease the first-day experience for both students and families.

“Our goal is to make the first week of school as joyful and stress-free as possible,” she said. “Thanks to the support of our partners and volunteers, our kindergarteners will walk into classrooms that are welcoming, well-equipped, and ready to inspire learning from day one.”

PENCIL, a longtime community partner of the district, played a central role in organizing and delivering the Kinderboxes. The organization’s leadership praised the district’s commitment to early education and community collaboration.

“PENCIL wants every child to have a solid start to the school year,” said Christiane Buggs, President and CEO of PENCIL. “We are excited MNPS chose us to bring the Kinderbox project to life. When a need is identified, we’re honored to be the organization that rallies support and delivers meaningful resources for students.”

The Kinderbox initiative reflects the district’s broader commitment to educational equity by ensuring that all students begin their academic journey on equal footing, regardless of their background or access to school supplies.