Arts Education

Action Alerts:

5/14/11: Prevent the Elimination of Arts Education Funding
In the coming weeks, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill that would eliminate the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education. H.R. 1891, the Setting New Priorities in Education Spending Act, would eliminate 43 K-12 federal education programs. This bill, which the House Education and Workforce Committee passed along party lines on May 25, is an even more serious threat than the annual federal funding measures, as H.R. 1891 would permanently strip the language out of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) that allows the Arts in Education program to be funded each year.
ACTION: As we move closer to a vote, now is the time to contact your members of Congress to make sure they know the importance of protecting Arts Education funding. Click here to send a personalized letter and invite your friends to do the same.

4/5/11: Support Funding for the Arts in Education Program
The U.S. Department of Education’s Arts in Education program provides federal support to performing arts organizations for the development, evaluation, and dissemination of model programs that integrate arts instruction into other subject areas.
ACTION: Ask your Representative and Senators to support funding for this important program. Click here to contact your elected officials and support funding the U.S. Department Education’s work in arts education.

4/5/11: Strengthen Arts Education in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Despite overwhelming public support for arts education, access to arts education in our schools is eroding. School systems are focusing largely on reading and math at the expense of arts education and other core subjects of learning.
ACTION: Ask your Representative and Senators to support strengthening arts education in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Click here to send your elected officials a message strengthening arts education in ESEA.

3/1/11: Restore FY11 Funding for Arts in Education and NEA!
As the long-term FY11 budget resolution debate continues, your help is needed to urge Congress to restore funding for the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The House FY11 long-term budget resolution eliminates funding for the Arts in Education program and includes a $43.1 million decrease in NEA funding. It is important the arts community raise its voice and urge legislators to restore funding to both of these programs.
ACTION: Click here to send your members of Congress a personalized message urging them to restore funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Arts in Education program at the U.S Department of Education.

News Alert—Proposed Consolidation of the Arts in Education Program at the US DOE: The President's FY 2011 budget proposed consolidating a number of programs, including the Arts in Education programs, into a new funding category called Effective Teaching and Learning for a Well-Rounded Education.  The proposed consolidation has been rejected by appropriators in Congress.  The Senate Appropriations Committee has preserved the Arts in Education programs by including $42 million for FY 2011, and the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies has recommended level funding of $40 million.

9/14/10: First Annual Arts in Education Week-- September 12 - 18, 2010   In late July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed resolution H.Con.Res. 275 designating the second week of September "Arts in Education Week."  During this important week, every member of Congress, in every state, needs to hear from their constituents on the value of arts education in our schools.  This is also an excellent opportunity to advocate for arts education at the local level with your school board. ACTION: Contact your elected official to support the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education.

6/10/08: Strengthen Arts Education in No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
Despite overwhelming public support for arts education, school systems are focusing largely on reading and math at the expense of arts education and other core subjects of learning.
ACTION: Ask your Representative and Senators to support strengthening arts education in the 2001 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Click here to see the Performing Arts Alliance Webpage, an Action Alert on this issue, and to access a sample letter.

4/11/07: Circulating NEA and Arts Education Letters
President Bush has asked for a $4 million increase for the NEA and zero funding for the Arts in Education programs at the US Department of Education. With no additional funding, inflation will cut into the NEA's ability to make grants to performing arts organizations and the Department of Education will be unable to make a second round of Arts in Education grants. The Congressional Arts Caucus is circulating two Dear Colleague letters in support of increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and increased funding for the Arts in Education programs at the U.S. Department of Education.
ACTION: Please take a moment to write to your Representative and ask him or herto sign theArts Caucus Dear Colleague letters. Click here to see the Performing Arts Alliance webpage, the Action Alert on this issue, and to access a sample letter encouraging your Representative to sign the letters.
Click here to see the power of your support since this cause was posted.

6/08/06: Commission on No Child Left Behind
The U.S. Department of Arts in Education program provides federal support to performing arts organizations for the development, evaluation and dissemination of model programs that integrate arts instruction into other subject areas. The 2001 No Child Left Behind Act recognizes the arts as a "core academic subject," making them eligible for inclusion in broad categories such as teacher training, school reform and technology. However, a 2005 report from the Center on Education Policy concludes that, since the enactment of NCLB, instructional time for art and music has been reduced by 22%. Congress has begun the multi-year process leading up to the reauthorization of the law which governs the federal role in education.
ACTION: Please write to your Members of Congress and make sure that they are aware of the importance of arts education to the performing arts community! Click here to see the Performing Arts Alliance webpage and their letter of guidance on the issue.

2/10/06: Tell Congress to Support New Funding for the NEA and Arts in Education
President Bush released the Administration’s budget request for FY 2007 this week, and once again he has requested no new funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), eliminated all funding for the Department of Education’s Arts in Education Programs and cut $53.5 million from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). An NEA budget of $124.4 million leaves the agency seriously under-funded and unable to fund the thousands of qualified grant applications it receives. Without additional funds, the NEA will be unable to adequately fund the discipline programs which are so important to the theatre community.
ACTION: Please write to your Members of Congress, and ask them to support an NEA budget of $170 million in the FY07 Interior Appropriations bill and an Arts in Education budget of $53 million for FY07. Click here to see the Performing Arts Alliance webpage and the January/February 2006 Advocacy Report.