Chesterfield County Public Schools' music program recently hit another high note. The NAMM Foundation has announced that for the second consecutive year Chesterfield is one of the nation's Best Communities for Music Education.

The recognition was presented to 110 school divisions that "exemplify community commitment to music education as part of a quality education for children."

Winners were identified through a survey about funding, enrollment, pupil-teacher ratios, music class participation, instruction time and support for the music program.

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit, philanthropic supporting organization of NAMM, the association for the international music products industry.

According to NAMM, research shows strong correlations between quality music education in school and academic achievement. Students involved with music programs develop skills needed by the 21st-century work force, including critical thinking, creative problem solving, effective communication and teamwork.

"Music education plays an important role in making connections to all areas of student learning and increased achievement," said Suzanne Mallory-Parker, the school division's instructional specialist for the performing arts. "The arts provide exposure to creativity, innovation, collaboration, critical thinking and self-directed learning that will help equip our students with the 21st-century skills they need to be successful after high school."