West Essex Regional School District Named Best Community for Music Education

The West Essex Regional School District has always been known for the arts and now it has been named a 2014 “Best Community for Music Education” by the NAMM Foundation, the National Association for Music Merchants.
“This recognition would not be possible without the efforts of our outstanding West Essex music educators, the support of the Administration and the daily collaboration that exists between the faculty and our music program,” said West Essex Supervisor of the Arts Vee Popat. “Our District Administration has a passion for the arts that is demonstrated in their tireless support of our students’ endeavors.”

West Essex was one of 472 school districts selected from a pool of more than 2,000 applicants from across the country to receive this prestigious distinction.

The NAMM Foundation established this award 15 years ago as a means of recognizing school districts which have demonstrated exceptional efforts toward maintaining music education as part of schools' core curriculum. School districts were asked questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified and reviewed by the Institute for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kansas, an affiliate of the University of Kansas.

"On behalf of the music program, I thank everyone for their continued support of our students' musical endeavors," Mr. Popat said. "We are very fortunate to be able to provide our students with an outstanding education in the arts!"