For the 10th consecutive year, the Irvine Unified School District has received the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation. Now in its 23rd year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. IUSD joins only four percent of school districts nationwide to receive this prestigious honor for its commitment to music and education.
Brad Van Patten, IUSD Director of Arts Education notes that, “IUSD leadership and I continue to be inspired by the ingenuity of our teachers and the resilience of our kids. IUSD has made an unwavering commitment to arts and music education. We believe they are an essential part of preparing students for college and career and we are proud to offer robust programming for all of our students.”
Van Patten also recognized and thanked the Irvine Company and the Irvine Public Schools Foundation for their generous support of the District’s visual and performing arts programming, which benefits thousands of students each year.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, IUSD answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.