In response to a call for public input last month regarding the $250 million for the new Preschool Development Grants competition, the Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS) received 480 responses. See this Groundswell post for background.
Now, they are seeking additional public comment on this dedicated website until 5:00 P.M. ET on March 21. Additionally, a public meeting will be held on March 20, 2014, from 3:30-5:00 P.M. in Washington, D.C., which will be streamed live. If you are interested in speaking during the meeting, you must register by sending an e-mail to: PreschoolDevelopmentGrant@ed.gov on Thursday, March 13, 2014 from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. ET.
Find guidelines for comment submission and speaking at the public meeting on the ED/HHS dedicated website here.
The questions of particular interest to the Departments—such as “What kind of absolute, competitive or invitational priorities should we consider in designing the competition?”—invite a place to encourage music education as a part of any programs to be awarded these grants. As previously mentioned, early music education is critical to student success. See the links below for ideas on points to make in promoting classroom music as a qualification for receiving these grants.
See NAfME’s “Start the Music Strategies” and “Start the Music: A Report from the Early Childhood Summit” for more background information.
Lili M. Levinowitz, Ph.D., “The Importance of Music in Early Childhood,” General Music Today, Fall 1998.
Charles Anzalone, “Study Finds Link Between Music and Preschoolers Reading Readiness,” University of Buffalo, 23 January 2013.
Catherina Hurlburt, Special Assistant, March 11, 2014. © National Association for Music Education (NAfME.org)
