On May 21, 2015, the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) and Stand Up 4 Music (SU4M), a coalition of twelve organizations, came together to support music education in California in meetings with state lawmakers.
In meetings with key staff Thursday, CMEA and SU4M demonstrated support for the CMEA-sponsored legislation SB 725, which would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene a panel of experts to recommend new Visual and Performing Arts Standards to the State Board. The State Board is required to adopt the standards no later than June 30, 2017. Read more about SB725. (UPDATE: SB725 came up for a vote on the Senate floor Tuesday, June 2, and CMEA has requested immediate action by voters. Learn more here.)
The Stand Up 4 Music Coalition includes:
- California Music Educators Association (CMEA)
- National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
- California Band Directors Association (CBDA)
- California Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (CA ACDA)
- California Orchestra Directors Association (CODA)
- California Alliance for Jazz (CAJ)
- Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA)
- Northern California Band Directors Association (NCBDA)
- Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA)
- Music Association of California Community Colleges (MACCC)
- California American String Teachers Association (Cal ASTA)
- Northern California Band Association (NCBA)
You can read about the Coalition’s legislative priorities here.
The National Association for Music Education applauds the work of CMEA and SU4M in sponsoring this key legislation and taking a strong, vocal stand for music in schools.
Follow CMEA on Twitter and Facebook for more great highlights from their advocacy day.
For further reading:
Susan Frey, “Bill proposes review of California’s arts standards,” EdSource, 3 May 2015.
Catherina Hurlburt, Communications Manager, May 22, 2015. © National Association for Music Education (NAfME.org)
