MUSIC (AND ARTS) EDUCATION DISTRICT SUPPORT SERVICES – MEDSS™

Just announced: MEDSS™ TN State of the Arts Study Report Released!

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What is Music (and Arts) Education District Support Services?

“Thank you for the hands-on approach from MHOF…through MEDSS you have made our district feel like a partner in a journey of discovery about ourselves.“
—District Arts Supervisor

Created and designed by the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation (MHOF), Music (and Arts) Education District Support Services (MEDSS™) is a comprehensive arts (dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts) education assessment and consulting service that identifies challenges and barriers creating inequities for student access and participation in quality, sequential and sustainable music and arts programming at every school throughout an entire school district. MEDSS also identifies why these barriers exist so that solutions can be implemented to remove them.

Our guiding belief and vision in this work is that every student deserves access to quality, sequential, and year-long music and arts learning opportunities delivered by arts educators during the regular school day. MHOF collaborates closely with school districts, empowering them through MEDSS as we journey toward realizing that vision together.

MHOF uses MEDSS findings and recommendations to guide our investment strategies and identify schools with the greatest need. By donating musical instruments to these schools, we aim to make a strategic impact in removing barriers for economically disadvantaged students.

MEDSS Impact

MEDSS has serviced more than 30 school districts of all sizes across the nation. In addition, many districts have requested a second assessment to continue monitoring and evaluating progress, identify trends, and respond to changing educational needs.

MEDSS Success Stories

Here are sample highlights and success stories of districts that have embraced the MEDSS findings and recommendations and have made a strong commitment to implementing promising practices and making strategic investments to strengthen music and arts education programs.

The district allocated $250,000 in Title IV funds to the arts department to address needs identified by MEDSS. Additionally, the MEDSS instrument audit identified 340 band instruments and 1,065 string instruments at campuses that did not offer the respective programs; the district collected, cleaned/repaired, and transferred them to schools in need.

The MEDSS assessment resulted in hiring additional music teachers and implementing instrumental music programs at seven elementary schools where none existed. MHOF assisted this effort by donating over 900 musical instruments valued at $500,000. Furthermore, the district arts department used MEDSS findings to secure $4M worth of additional ESSER funds to support arts education.

The MEDSS assessment revealed a sequential gap in instruction for elementary students who were promoted to a middle school where there had not been a music program for 10 years. In response, the district hired a music teacher, MHOF donated instruments valued at approximately $50,000 and a middle school music program was implemented. Students throughout Chester County now have access to sequential K–12 music education.

“I cannot express enough how thankful we are for the hard work and care you have brought to little Chester County. Because of you, we have a brand new fine arts teacher and music supplies that will enhance the music education experience for our students.” – Chester Co. Music Teacher

MEDSS revealed elementary teachers were stretched thin teaching across multiple campuses with restrictive and inequitable scheduling and music class frequency. The district added an elementary teacher to resolve this issue. For the first time in 20 years, the district purchased curriculum and instructional materials for the elementary music teachers as a result of needs identified by teachers through the MEDSS assessment.

Speaking of the district’s recent discussions and prioritization of music and the arts, a Coffee County music teacher remarked, “I’m just glad the questions are finally being asked and I completely believe that has to do with MHOF’s MEDSS assessment of our district because it opened so many eyes.” 

MEDSS revealed that English Language Learner (ELL) students were not enrolled in music across several middle schools throughout the district. The district identified it was due to intervention classes taking place at the same time as music. MHOF worked with the teachers and principal at one of the district’s middle schools, who prioritized adding an extra class period so ELL students can participate in music, serving as a model for other schools. Additionally, MHOF granted musical instruments and equipment valued at $187,000 to support the district’s music programs across six high schools.

“The MEDSS assessment gave us rich, quantifiable data to illustrate the current state of our arts programs and point us toward priorities for the coming years. The results were incredibly valuable when updating our strategic plan for arts education,” said the Fine Arts Coordinator for Rutherford County Schools. “The MEDSS/CMAF grants will allow us to be strategic with our resources and ensure maximum impact…[and] have provided much-needed relief in the purchasing of large, expensive instruments that are needed for quality programs. This will allow us to invest more resources over the next few years toward priorities we have identified through our MEDSS results, such as intentionally providing support to ensure economically disadvantaged students have equitable access to music and arts education.” 

As a result of the MEDSS assessment, SFUSD implemented a centralized inventory system to better track instruments and equipment. Additionally, MEDSS identified inequities in music program access and enrollment for students of color at the elementary level due to scheduling. The schedule barrier was a result of not having enough music teachers with many teachers teaching at up to five schools each. Utilizing MEDSS findings and recommendations, funding was approved for the district to hire eight additional elementary teachers. As a result, 50% of teachers who taught previously at up to five schools were reduced to 23%. Scheduling barriers were removed and students who once did not have access to music are now able to participate. SFUSD recently requested a second MEDSS assessment that will assist the district in further evaluation and planning.

To address school needs for equipment and materials as identified by MEDSS, the district committed $50,000 towards the purchase of instruments and art materials. Additionally, the district supplied resources identified to support English Language Learners and Special Education students in the classroom (i.e. access to individualized student education plans, relevant professional development, assistive technology, culturally-diverse lesson planning, etc.). Lastly, the district has committed to implementing a centralized inventory system for music and arts equipment. Through the generosity of the CMA Foundation, MHOF granted musical instruments and equipment valued at almost $98,000 to support the district’s music programs across seven schools and to support implementation of the new inventory system. 

Learn About the MEDSS Assessment Inquire About MEDSS for Your District