The Shenandoah Sentinel
Upper Schuylkill County's Community Connection
The Shenandoah Sentinel
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – The North Schuylkill Spartan Band celebrates winning the Tournament of Bands Region 2 Championship in their class on Oct. 19, 2024.
FOUNTAIN SPRINGS – Two local music programs are receiving national recognition once again for a sixth and fifth year in a row respectively.
North Schuylkill and Shenandoah Valley both received the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation.
For North Schuylkill, it’s their sixth year and, for Shenandoah Valley, it’s their fifth.
“Receiving this award again for the sixth year in a row is a tremendous honor for our district and its stellar music program. It is a testament of the unwavering dedication of our music department faculty, and our incredible students.” said Jacob Shoener, North Schuylkill High School Director of Bands.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, each school 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 Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by the leading arts educational research firm, WolfBrown.
Since the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015 and a stated emphasis on a well-rounded education, many school districts have re-committed to music and arts education programs. During the pandemic, music and arts programs were a vital component to keeping students engaged in school. ESSA 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.
The Shenandoah Sentinel is northern Schuylkill County’s news source, covering news and sports in and around Shenandoah, Ashland, Mahanoy City, Frackville, Nuremberg, and the surrounding areas.
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