The School District of Palm Beach County has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) designation from The National Association for Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for the second year in a row for its outstanding commitment to music education.
The BCME designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. The School District of Palm Beach County is one of only 563 school districts in the nation and one of only three in the State of Florida to receive this distinction.
“It is quite an honor to have the District recognized for its commitment to provide quality music education opportunities for all of its students,” said Edrick Rhodes, K-12 Arts Education Program Planner for the School District . “That commitment is reflected in the outstanding programs our schools offer, and the tremendous talent that is developing in the programs.”
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, the District 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.
This award recognizes that Palm Beach County’s district schools are leading the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The legislation guides implementation in the states and replaces the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) which was often criticized for an overemphasis on testing-while leaving behind subjects such as music. ESSA recommends music and the arts as important elements of a well-rounded education for all children.