Music teachers, school administrators and board members are invited to participate in the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation’s 2015 Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) program and complete a survey either for their district or school.

The BCME program recognizes community efforts to provide high-quality music education for all students. The surveys – one for districts and one for individual schools – gauge funding, participation, facilities, and other factors that affect access to comprehensive music education.

In 2014, more than 2000 schools and districts participated, resulting in a record number of “Best Communities” designees. The NAMM Foundation designated 376 school districts as Best Communities for Music Education, and 96 individual schools earned the SupportMusic Merit Award for their commitment to providing students with access to comprehensive music education.

The 2015 BCME designees will be invited next spring to participate in the “What Makes Music Education Great in My School or District” video contest, and winning schools and districts will be awarded a two-day residency with the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and the opportunity to host a SupportMusic Community Forum. The two-day residency provides music students with the opportunity to write and record an original song and video aboard a high-tech mobile recording studio, while the community forum brings national recognition to communities that support winning music programs.

The surveys are open through Jan. 30. For more information and links to the surveys, go here.