Va education officials decry K-12 budget cuts

RICHMOND (AP) — What education administrators, teachers and advocates have feared has become official: Gov. Bob McDonnell says he plans to cut $731 million in state support to local public school divisions. The amount announced Wednesday represents an 11 percent funding cut in state public-education... 

Music ‘can boost wider learning’

Learning a musical instrument at primary school can boost a child’s confidence and learning in other areas, a report suggests. Nine out of 10 schools asked about a government-funded scheme that teaches pupils to play instruments in a group, said the process raised self-esteem. Many teachers... 

Rock for Kids / Chicago

In my search for other non profit organizations that support youth music, I came across one particular group whose mission is both new to me and incredibly commending. “Rock For Kids is a non-profit organization that provides support, hope, inspiration and assistance to under served children and... 

High School Dropout Rates

On average, only 58% of students in America’s 50 largest cities make it to commencement. Though suburban students graduate at much higher rates, overall, close to 10% of 16- to 24-year-olds in the U.S. do not have diplomas. Dropping out has long-lasting effects. The average income of a worker without... 

DC Youth Orchestra: Success On A Shoestring

If you had the means to send your children to the best music classes, would you send them to a run-down building with dirty bathrooms and broken windows? That’s exactly what happens for students in the popular DC Youth Orchestra, an independent program in Washington, D.C., which borrows space at... 

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