For the ninth consecutive year, IUSD has been named one of the nation’s Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. IUSD joins only four percent of school districts nationwide to receive this prestigious honor for its commitment to music and education.
“This honor is particularly special given this unprecedented year,” said Brad Van Patten, IUSD Director of Arts Education. “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.
Now in its 22nd 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. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, IUSD answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, and support for the music programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
In a prepared statement, the NAMM Foundation said, “Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational, cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. After two years of music education, research found that participants showed substantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading compared to their less involved peers.”