Dear Theatre Educators,
We know many of you are deeply concerned about the recent announcement regarding the significant staffing reduction at the Department of Education. Like you, we are watching these developments closely, and we share your concerns about what this could mean for public education, arts education, federal funding, and protections for students and teachers.
While this action signals a significant shift, it's important to remember that fully dismantling a federal department requires congressional approval. We don't yet know what shape the Department of Education may ultimately take, but we do know this: we will stand with you, we will fight for you, and we will continue advocating for theatre educators and students every step of the way.
The Educational Theatre Association, along with our partners in the Arts Education Alliance (the National Association for Music Education, the National Art Education Association, the National Association for Media Arts Education, and the National Dance Education Organization), have signed onto the Department of Education Protection Act, a bill that aims to shield the U.S. Department of Education from efforts to dismantle the agency by prohibiting the use of appropriated funds to decentralize, reduce the staffing level of, or alter the functionality of the Department.
Theatre education is not expendable. It is a vital part of student learning-helping young people develop empathy, collaboration, and critical thinking skills that prepare them for life. Any restructuring of the Department of Education must not come at the cost of student access to the arts or the professional standing of theatre educators.
Now is a critical moment to raise our voices and one area is in support of sustained federal funding for arts education. Congress is considering cuts to education funding-including funding for Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) program. We encourage you to contact your legislators through this advocacy campaign: Support Federal Funding for Arts Education.
We will continue to provide updates as more details emerge and will work tirelessly to ensure that the policies shaping the future of education support and protect theatre educators and their students.
If you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. You may also watch our live webinar "Federal Impact on Theatre Education" recording, which was just posted in this community space. We are in this together, and together, we will keep theatre education strong.
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Dr. Jennifer Katona
Executive Director/President
Educational Theatre Association
Educational Theatre Foundation
NYC
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