The Scientist–in-the-Classroom Partnership Program, previously the National Science Foundation GK-12 Graduate Teaching Fellows Program, officially launched on June 1, 2006. The Scientist-in-the-Classroom Partnership Program is a partnership between four educational institutions of higher learning, all within a five-mile radius of each other in Nashville, Tennessee. In collaboration with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, the participating institutions are Vanderbilt University, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College and Tennessee State University.

The primary purpose of the Scientist-in-the-Classroom Partnership Program is to partner science teaching fellows (STFs) with Nashville middle school science teachers. The STFs are graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in the sciences, who collaborate with education professionals in middle school science classrooms one day a week throughout the school year. STFs focus on working with teacher partners to develop and implement hands-on, inquiry-based activities, providing classroom demonstrations, assisting with tutoring students and directing student research projects. An extension of the NSF GK-12 Program, the Scientist-in-the-Classroom Partnership Program is a partnership that benefits fellows, teachers, and students.

The 2007-2008 school year brings together nine Metropolitan Nashville Public School teachers and nine science teaching fellows in a collaborative effort to improve science instruction and provide opportunities for middle school students to work with scientists. The current cadre of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows represents scientific research in biochemistry, medicine, physics, astronomy, psychology, mathematics, and materials engineering. Presently participating schools include Margaret Allen Middle, Bellevue Middle, East Literature Magnet, Haynes Middle Health/Medical Science Design Center, Head Middle Math and Science Magnet, H.G. Hill Middle, Isaac Litton Middle, Neely's Bend Middle, and Henry Oliver Middle School.

The Vanderbilt-Meharry-Tennessee State University Scientist-in-the-Classroom Partnership Program is a joint venture between Vanderbilt University, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University, Fisk University, and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. It is supported by the Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach and funded by the partner universities and schools.

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