For the third time in four years, Boerne ISD fine arts music programs has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.
BISD also earned this honor in 2021 and 2023.
The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation is a nonprofit that advances active participation in music making by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs.
Now in its 25th 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.
“Music education in Boerne ISD is very important to our community and its students,” Ken Peach, district coordinator of fine arts, said. “The benefits of a strong music curriculum are indispensable for an overall balanced curriculum in BISD.
“We are proud to say that all Boerne students have completed high school with experiences that have enriched their lives through the study of the arts. We believe that all students deserve a well-balanced education which includes quality fine arts instruction in all our schools,” Peach added.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, BISD 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 by school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
In 2015, Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which provides designated funding for well-rounded educational opportunities through Title IV Part A Student Academic Success and Achievement grants.
NAMM Foundation research has revealed that these grants are being widely used by school districts to address instructional gaps in access to music and arts education.
Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/ cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. Researchers found that, after two years of music education, participants showed more subs tantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers and that students who are involved in music are not only more likely to graduate high school, but also to attend college as well.
Later in life, individuals who took music lessons as children show stronger neural processing of sound. Young adults and even older adults who have not played an instrument for up to 50 years show enhanced neural processing compared to their peers.
Not to mention, social benefits include conflict resolution, teamwork skills, and how to give and receive constructive criticism.
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