The Alachua County School Board has re-applied for a grant from the Florida Department of Education to continue its involvement in the Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Program. The application was submitted on Wednesday.
Launched in 2023, this statewide initiative offers kindergarten through second-grade students 30-minute music classes twice a week. These sessions focus on music appreciation, composition, and instrument training.
Research from the National Institute of Health indicates that music training can enhance children’s verbal memory, reading skills, and executive functioning abilities.
Joram Rejouis, Director of Project Development for Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS), highlighted the program’s benefits. He noted that it reinforces classroom skills such as reading, timekeeping, and counting. Additionally, students have the chance to perform for their families.
“The results have been very positive,” Rejouis said. “Music education significantly benefits children’s development at a young age. We are fortunate in Alachua County to have this opportunity.”
The grant application reveals that the 2023-24 Early Childhood Music Grant Program led to an average increase of two points in Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) exam scores in reading for 42% of participating students.
In Alachua County, the program expanded to include six Title I schools this year, serving 1,420 students. This is an increase from the five Title I schools that participated in the previous year.
The school board has requested $213,000 in grant funding to purchase music supplies, including sheets and percussion instruments such as xylophones, Tubano drums, and metallophones.
Originally a pilot program, the success of the initiative has prompted ACPS to reapply for the grant. Rejouis expects to receive a decision from the Department of Education by the end of August.