[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4849]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF SOUTH ORANGE AND MAPLEWOOD & THE 
              LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS MUSIC EDUCATION AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONALD M. PAYNE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 13, 2015

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the School 
District of South Orange and Maplewood and the Linden Public Schools 
for receiving recognition as one of the Best Communities for Music 
Education (BCME) from the National Association of Music Merchants 
(NAMM). This association only recognized 388 school districts around 
the nation this year and I am very proud of each district's 
achievement.
  The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) gives its 
distinction for outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, 
parents, students, and community leaders to emphasize the importance 
and accessibility that every child have to music education. The BCME 
program evaluates districts and schools based on funding, staffing of 
highly qualified teachers, commitment to standards, and access to music 
instruction.
  Music education helps develop educational, cognitive, and social 
skills. Listening to music strengthens the ability to perceive speech 
within noise, pay attention, and develop memory abilities. Music 
exposure reveals different aspects of brain function and addresses 
language and learning difficulties, such as the neural timing precision 
between speech syllables.
  The School District of South Orange and Maplewood and the Linden 
Public Schools have done an excellent job in promoting music education 
and in successfully exceeding any challenges and barriers that may have 
appeared along their pathway. I hope they continue empowering the 
community with their leadership and enthusiasm in music education.

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