Celebrating the Oklahoma Music Educators Association

Celebrating the Oklahoma Music Educators Association

A Beacon of Advocacy and Resilience

By Jazzmone Sutton, NAfME Senior Manager for State Advocacy and Equity

We are thrilled to spotlight the Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OkMEA) for their extraordinary dedication to preserving arts education in Oklahoma. In early 2024, Oklahoma House Bill 3278 was introduced, which would require an additional math course for graduation requirement. This additional requirement would eliminate the arts education course required for graduation.

In collaboration with NAfME Senior Manager for State Advocacy and Equity Jazzmone Sutton, OkMEA launched a compelling advocacy campaign that demonstrated the essential role of arts education and the negative impacts of removing this requirement. An astounding 5,000 messages were sent by a broad spectrum of advocates including music and arts educators, parents, community members, and partners to OkMEA legislators in two weeks.

Despite this extraordinary show of support for music and arts education in Oklahoma, the bill was passed and signed into law in April 2024. We commend Oklahoma advocates for their tireless perseverance displayed in this effort.

Undeterred by this setback, OkMEA continues to forge ahead with a renewed dedication. Advocacy leaders are building strong alliances with other arts education organizations to strengthen the network of advocates supporting arts education. NAfME Advocacy and Public Policy staff are actively collaborating with OkMEA advocacy leaders to research potential strategies in supporting music and arts education in the Sooner State.

In addition, advocates are actively seeking to educate and empower members to share the importance of music education. These initiatives and activities aim to galvanize support for music education and highlight its significance in our schools and communities.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to OkMEA for their unwavering commitment and resilience. Your efforts exemplify the crucial role that arts education plays in a student’s educational journey and inspires us all to continue supporting this vital cause.

We encourage everyone to stay up-to-date regarding music education advocacy efforts in their state by connecting with their NAfME Advocacy Leadership Force (ALF) representative. Together, we can continue to champion the cause of music education and make a lasting impact in the lives of students.

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