NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- To help the ailing Metro school system, Mayor Karl Dean announced on Monday a plan on to raise $2 million by the end of September for two new education initiatives.

Video: Mayor Hopes New Plan Will Bring In Best Teachers

The money would come from private donations and would not entail any new tax increases for the public.

The mayor said the money would be used to recruit better teachers and also allow for teachers to be hired earlier in the spring and summer for the upcoming school year.

Dean said both initiatives are designed to hire the best possible teachers for Metro schools.

"It sends a message that Nashville is serious about school reform," said Dean.

One program is called Teach for America, which recruits promising education students while they're still in college. The students in the program commit two years to teach in urban or rural public schools.

"I want to have this program next year," said Dean.

The second program is called the New Teacher Project and is designed to help school districts recruit, select and train exceptional teachers.

"Right now, Metro hires many of its new teachers in late summer. By then, a lot of good candidates are gone. This project would allow the recruiting and hiring to start in early spring," said Dean.

Related Links:

The New Teacher Project

Teach For America