BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Central School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Ballston Spa is one of the 4% of public school districts across the nation receiving the prestigious award in 2020. The district also received the recognition in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
“This national recognition serves as a credit to our faculty for providing outstanding opportunities in music education to our students throughout the district,” said Ken Slentz, Superintendent of Schools. “It further demonstrates how important music education is to our students, our district and our school community,” he continued.
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, Ballston Spa 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.
“The Music Department would like to thank the students, parents, families, school staff, administrators, Board of Education, and the Ballston Spa community for supporting the music program in our schools,” indicated Brian Retersdorf, BSCSD K-12 Music Coordinator. He continued, “We are so fortunate to work in a district that believes in the importance of music and provides us the budget, teachers, instruments and classes to do what we love.”
This award recognizes that Ballston Spa is leading the way with music learning opportunities as outlined in the federal education legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The legislation, signed into law in December 2015, designates music and the arts as important elements of a well-rounded education for all children. The NAMM Foundation’s Best Communities for Music Education Award and the state level implementation of the federal ESSA law bring attention to the importance of keeping music education part of curriculum offerings and available to all students. It also highlights music’s vital role in students’ overall success in school and the personal benefits of making music.
The district recently celebrated Music in Our Schools month with several special events, including an annual Pops Concert for the school community and acknowledging students who have performed in state and regional honors groups at a Board of Education meeting. Congratulations to all the students, staff and families involved in the Ballston Spa music community. Additional information about the music program in the Ballston Spa schools is available on the department’s webpages via www.bscsd.org or call 518-884-7150.
