I'm excited to share important news from the Arts Education Alliance – the coalition of arts education associations, including EdTA, that lobbies for federal funding and policies supporting arts-rich schools for all.
Today the U.S. Department of Education issued a letter to state education agencies with guidance on the use of federal funds to support arts education programs. This is the first time such guidance has been issued since the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) named the arts as part of a well-rounded education in 2015.
What this means for theatre educators: The letter is a roadmap for how our programs can utilize funding from Title I, II, III, and IV-A; Carl. D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). For example:
- Title I will be used to close the gap in access to arts education faced by students in low-income areas.
- Title II and IDEA will provide educators professional learning opportunities to better support students with disabilities and diverse student populations.
Alongside broadening access to the arts, the Department of Education's guidance will enable more of the student population to receive the benefits of artistic involvement, offering opportunities for creative expression, team building, social engagement, and culturally enriching experiences.
EdTA thanks the Department of Education for taking this meaningful step to support equitable access to the arts. We're grateful to our partners in the alliance - the National Art Education Association, National Association for Media Arts Education, National Association for Music Education, and National Dance Education Organization - for working together toward this monumental win. It's the culmination of years of work from arts education advocates.
The alliance will be sharing more soon on how you can use this guidance to advocate for your programs. In the meantime, we invite you to read the letter and our joint press release.
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Jennifer Katona
Executive Director
Educational Theatre Association
OH
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