For Immediate Release:
Date: April 23, 2003
Contact: Richard S. Coulter
Phone: (570) 327-5500, ext. 3518.
WASD Music Education: Recognizing Excellence
For the second consecutive year, the Williamsport Area School
District is among 100 communities in 30 states have been named the Best 100
Communities for Music Education in America. The list, which represents
an annual snapshot of music education at its best, stands
in relief against a
backdrop of widespread education budget cuts that threaten these and other music
programs across the country. It is based on a nationwide survey conducted
earlier this year by The American Music Conference and several partner
organizations in the fields of music and education. The unveiling of the
survey results marks the culmination of “Music In Our Schools Month,” an annual
observance that highlights this vital topic.
The Best 100 Communities for Music Education program is designed to acknowledge this commitment and inspire others in the process. Thousands of public school and independent teachers, school and district administrators, school board members, parents and community leaders, representing communities in all 50 states, participated in the Web-based survey during January and February.
By calling attention to communities that are doing well, the AMC wants to make sure people understand the commitment necessary from communities that demand a quality education for their children—and how many other communities aren’t so lucky. Music education currently faces a crisis in America, as budget cuts and a new emphasis on standardized testing threaten to marginalize arts programs. These cuts and demands seem to fall under the path of irony as new studies have shown that students who participate in music appreciation programs have demonstrated higher levels of proficiency in mathematics assessments and fare better on SAT exams.
How fortunate are students who participate in Williamsport Area School District’s music programs? Currently, up to 28 million American students do not receive an adequate music education. According to the Music Education Coalition, the current round of budget cuts could lead to curtailment of programs depriving as many as 30 million students—more than 60 percent of those enrolled in grades K-12—of an education that includes music. The results of this survey show that successful music programs are to be found in communities that balance measurable resources, such as budgets and buildings, with less tangible assets—such as the will to make quality music education a reality.
Williamsport Area School District’s commitment to outstanding music programs exemplifies the strong relationship between the arts and academic achievement. Mr. Richard Coulter, Music Education Department Chairman/Gifted Education Coordinator, will be presented with a certificate of recognition for excellence in music education at the May 6th board meeting for outstanding music programs and community support, enriching the lives of children and advancing student achievement.
The Best 100 list, along with background information on music education and the survey, can be seen in its entirety at www.amc-music.org.
In addition to this outstanding accomplishment, the Williamsport Area School District’s music program has also been chosen as a finalist in the Grammy Signature Schools program presented by 7UP. Only 100 programs nationwide are chosen for the Grammy Signature program. The Grammy Foundation is a non-profit extension of the Recording Academy.
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