Winter Music Education Policy Roundtable 2016 Federal Appropriations Requests

Who We Are:

The Music Education Policy Roundtable is a coalition of music and music education organizations which advocates on behalf of ensuring the continued presence and perseverance of high quality music programs in America’s schools. The Roundtable believes that music education should be taught by certified music educators, delivering sequential, standards-based music education to all students across the nation, regardless of personal circumstance or background.

Overview of Winter 2016 Requests:

With the recent passage and signing of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Music Education Policy Roundtable would like to take this time to thank Congress for passing this historic piece of legislation. The legislation’s enumeration of “music” as part of a “Well-Rounded Education” marks an unprecedented step forward for music education. As ESSA implementation gets under way, the most important request that the Music Education Policy Roundtable can make is for Congress to fully fund this critical piece of legislation. As such, the Roundtable has developed several specific appropriations requests, which we offer for consideration, as funding proposals begin to take shape in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives regarding the programs authorized within ESSA.

Roundtable Federal Legislative Recommendations:

Appropriate Funding for All “Well-Rounded” Programs:
The inclusion of “music” within the definition of a “Well-Rounded Education” in ESSA provides a significant number of opportunities for supporting access to music education at the state and local levels. The specific enumeration of music in statute further articulates music’s eligibility for Title I, Title II, and Title IV funding. In order to realize the vision of maximizing these new federal resources in support of music education, Congress must do all that it can to prioritize ESSA funding during the upcoming appropriations process.

As such, we ask that Congress:

Support Access to Music Education for the Most Disadvantaged Students by Fully Funding Title I, Part A:

Title I, Part A programs, both school-wide and targeted, are now available to provide supplemental funds for a well-rounded education, including music.

Funding History for Title I to LEAs (in millions)

Support Professional Development for Music Educators by Fully Funding Title I, Part A, Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part F: These funds may be used to support professional development for music educators, as part of supporting a “Well-rounded Education.”

Supporting Effective Instruction, Title II, Part A (formerly, Teacher Quality Program) Funding History (in millions)

Assistance for Arts Education (formerly, Arts in Education), Title IV, Part F Funding History (in millions)

Support Access to Music Education as Part of a Well-Rounded Education by Fully Funding Title IV, Part A:

ESSA provides a new and clear intent to support our nation’s schools through a “Well-Rounded Education.” As such, these funds may be used in part to improve access to music education, and, in turn, to support not only student success, but also the promotion of constructive student engagement, problem solving, and conflict resolution. In addition, other funds may be utilized to offer a broad array of enriched educational experiences, such as providing music to underrepresented, disadvantaged, and minority student populations.

Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, Title IV, Part A Funding History (in millions)

**Title IV, Part A is a new program created by the “Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA),” therefore there is no previous funding history.

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