AUSTIN ACHIEVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
PARTNERSHIP PROFILE

The goal of this partner profile is to showcase the 7-year journey that Austin Soundwaves and Austin Achieve Public Schools took to develop a K-12 sequential music education system that is currently offered to more than 2,000 students. We hope to shed light on our approach to planning and implementing successful music programs, and demonstrate the value of a school-centered approach to equitable music learning. Change is the norm and this journey had ups, downs, twists, and turns. But by using a collective impact approach, a practical plan, and a clear vision of success, we developed a music education program that is "built to last."

Building Equitable School Music Programs

Equitable in-school music programs led by effective teachers and supportive administrators are inviting for students and a source of pride for communities. Successful in-school music programs have stable student enrollment, strong teacher retention, and operate within a structure that does not require annual philanthropic support. Using our Equity in Music Education Framework, Austin Soundwaves helps schools plan, fund, and administer in-school music programs. Our partnership model is practical and transparent, enabling schools of all sizes to offer high-quality music education programs. 

To inform decisions and assess impact, we utilize two separate logic models–one focused on the student experience, and the other on program structure–that together ensure the school music programs we support are equitable and built to last.  

Austin Soundwaves has over 10 years of experience partnering with schools to create equitable music programs. In that time we have overcome countless challenges and have seen first hand the impact well-planned and executed programs can have on students, schools, and communities. With this partner profile we hope to shed light on our approach to planning and implementing successful music programs and demonstrate the inherent value of a school-centered approach to equitable music learning.

PHASE I: MUSIC PROGRAM STARTUP

Initial Conversations

We began initial conversations with Austin Achieve Public Schools (APPS) in April 2015. AAPS had recently completed construction on a new school building with a dedicated music room, and the school community was ready to launch their first-ever music program. 

The school’s leadership team was excited to add music to the school day but was unsure of how best to approach staffing, curriculum, and course sequence. With three of the most important success indicators present–administrative support, classroom space, and funding for teachers–AAPS was ready to launch a music program and we knew that our programs and services could add value.

Following initial conversations, we executed our first contract in 2015. This contract formalized our partnership, and our shared goal of launching an in-school music program during the upcoming year (2015-16).

Austin Soundwaves: Year 1 Primary Responsibilities

  • Support the music program director hiring process

  • Oversee curriculum selection and implementation

  • Provide an initial allotment of musical instruments

  • Provide regular coaching to the music program director*

  • Provide 10-20 hours per week of specialized small group and one-on-one instruction

Austin Achieve: Year 1 Primary Responsibilities

  • Hire the music program director as a school employee

  • Provide administrative oversight and coaching to the music program director 

  • Provide adequate classroom and storage space for instruments and supplies

 

PHASE II: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

Adapting to Change 

During the school years between 2016 and 2018, our partnership deepened, and Austin Achieve experienced significant growth. To accommodate this growth and address space constraints, we pivoted to an after-school model during the 2018-19 school year. During this time, we also worked closely with the AAPS leadership team to set an ambitious goal of building a fully-sequential K-12 in-school music program by 2022. This goal became our motivating “north star” that kept everyone focused.

 
 

A clear and unified vision of success was especially important while navigating the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic necessitated a pivot to virtual learning in spring 2020 and later to a hybrid (in-person and virtual) model in spring 2021. 

By the fall of 2021, the music program was 100% in-school and in-person. Under the leadership of a full-time middle school band director and full-time high school band director, Austin Soundwaves provided weekly coaching to each band director, regular lessons to students, and ongoing strategic guidance to school administrators. 

In February 2022, the Austin Achieve elementary school hired a music teacher to lead the elementary program beginning in the 2022-23 school year. This hire represents the final piece of the Austin Achieve music puzzle and makes good on our shared vision of “music for all.” 

PHASE III: TOWARD EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

 
 

Completing the Puzzle

With full-time elementary, middle, and high school music teachers in place for the 2022-23 school year, Austin Achieve now has a sequential, “vertically-aligned” music system available to their 2,500 students in grades K-12. 

An Austin Achieve student can now learn music for 13 years within an equitable learning sequence that is challenging, motivating, and relevant. Through the combined programs and resources of Austin Achieve and Austin Soundwaves, AAPS students are set up to achieve success in music, school, and life. 

About Austin Achieve Public Schools

Austin Achieve Public Schools (AAPS) is a tuition-free, open-enrollment public charter school whose goal is to prepare Austin scholars to attend and excel at top universities. Current Pre-K-12 enrollment is 2,000 students across three campuses. Their projected enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year is 2,500.