Great news from Capitol Hill! The Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced the FY 2026 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill with strong bipartisan support (26-3). This bill allocates $79 billion to the U.S. Department of Education and firmly rejects proposals to eliminate the Department. It also mandates adequate staffing to ensure timely implementation of federally funded programs.
Key wins for educators include a $50 million increase for both Title I and IDEA, supporting low-income students and those with disabilities. Importantly, the bill protects these formula grants from being shifted to other agencies, preserving their impact in schools.
Arts education sees a slight funding dip, with Assistance for Arts Education set at $31.5 million. However, $8 million is earmarked for a national grant competition, ensuring continued support for arts-based learning and professional development.
Other programs like Title IV-A, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and Title II maintain their funding, while the Institute of Education Sciences remains funded at $793 million to support educational research and data.
Members of Congress will be back in their states and districts for the August recess, and this is a great time to communicate how important these federal funds are for arts education! Please take a moment to visit our Grassroots Action Center and send a pre-drafted message to your Representative and Senators.
Teachers and advocates are encouraged to join the ongoing campaign to support FY 2026 federal education funding.
Let's keep the momentum going for our students and schools!
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Dr. Jennifer Katona
Executive Director/President
Educational Theatre Association
Educational Theatre Foundation
NYC
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