Roanoke County Again One of Nation’s Best Communities for Music Education
The NAMM Foundation has announced the results of its tenth annual “Best Communities for Music Education” survey, which acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment and support of music education in schools.
Once again, Roanoke County Public Schools has been recognized as one of the nation’s best communities for music education and the only school system in the western half of Virginia to receive this distinction. The school system received this distinction in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 and again in 2009.
As the economy challenges state and local school budgets to adequately support education, the 124 school districts named by the NAMM Foundation demonstrate the unwavering commitment to provide music education for their students. The NAMM Foundation’s mission is to ensure that all children have access to quality music education programs that encourage lifelong participation in music making.
“We remain committed to providing quality arts instruction to our students,” said Roanoke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Lorraine Lange. “We feel that the arts are an important part of the learning process,” Lange added.
“The potential of music to help children reach their full development is understood by the school districts represented in this year’s survey results,” said Mary Luehrsen, executive director, NAMM Foundation. “We celebrate these communities that are committed to providing access to music education programs and bettering the lives of their students.”
The 2009 survey, which opened on Thursday January 15, and ended Friday, March 13, was available to all districts nationwide. This year, teachers and school district administrators, representing communities across the country, participated in the Web-based survey. The districts were measured across curricular and programmatic criteria as well as public support of their music programs. The survey was developed and administered by The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service, an affiliate of the University of Kansas.
Participants in the survey answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and other relevant factors in their communities’ music education programs. The responses were verified with district officials, and advisory organizations reviewed the data.