Valley Life Charter School is one of the recipients of the 2026 Best Communities for Music Education Award from The NAMM Foundation, school officials announced on Wednesday, April 22.
This award acknowledges the school’s commitment to creating an environment where students can learn and grow with music, according to the nonprofit’s website. The NAMM Foundation awarded 127 schools across the country with the distinction.
“This recognition from the NAMM Foundation celebrates our mission as a performing arts charter school. We take great pride in being a Tulare County Office of Education charter that priorities creative expression alongside academic excellence,” Valley Life Superintendent Lori Lackey said. “By providing a high-quality music education through the lens of a Leader in Me Lighthouse school, we are empowering our students to lead both on and off the stage.
Award recipients were selected through a comprehensive application and review process that evaluates key indicators, including funding, instructional time, participation rates, facilities and community support.
To uphold the program’s rigor and credibility, all applications were independently reviewed and verified by WolfBrown, a leading research and evaluation firm specializing in education and the arts, explained Megan Carlton, Valley Life’s visual and performing arts director.
Winners of the Best Communities for Music Education Award receive national recognition, and help remind the community that music is a part of a well-rounded education, school officials said.
“Music education is not an extra, it is an essential,” said Chris Allen, who teachers orchestra, guitar, handbells and piano at Valley Life. “It teaches discipline, creativity, and collaboration, while giving students a voice when words alone aren’t enough. When we invest in music, we invest in the whole student.”
To learn more about the NAAM Foundation, visit their website at: www.naamfoundation.org
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Visalia’s Valley Life Charter School earns national music award
Reporting by Meade Trueworthy, Special to Visalia Times-Delta / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
