NAfME FY 2023 Legislative Agenda
NAfME is pleased to release its Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Legislative Agenda, which was developed in cooperation with the NAfME Music Education Policy Roundtable.
The agenda highlights the value of music education as part of a well-rounded education for each child and communicates NAfME’s position on issues at the federal level. In regular meetings with roundtable partners, their expertise was leveraged to determine the appropriate funding levels for each program and other policy requests that will help advance music and arts education.
Our top priorities are highlighted below, but please click here to view the entire agenda:
Title I, Part A—The largest source of federal funding for schools serving economically disadvantaged students. Increased funding for Title I-A would allow for an increased level of supplemental support in providing a well-rounded education that includes music. We request this program be funded at $36.5 billion in FY 2023, and that language be included in the annual Labor-HHS-Education bill making it explicit that Title I-A funds may be used to support music education as a part of a “well-rounded education.”
Title II, Part A— Focused on improving student academic achievement by bolstering skills and expertise of teachers, principals, and other educators and increasing the number of high-quality teachers and principals in schools. We request this program be funded at $3 billion in FY 2023, and that language be included in the annual Labor-HHS-Education bill making it explicit that states and districts can use Title II funds to offer professional learning opportunities for music and other arts educators.
—Funding used to support block grants aimed at improving student academic achievement and access to a well-rounded education. Through these block grants, Title IV-A proved itself to be the federal funding stream most used for providing supplemental instruction for music and arts education. We request this program be funded at $2 billion in FY 2023.
—Passed in 1975, IDEA mandates that all students, regardless of ability, be provided a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. We request this program be funded at $16.3 billion in FY 2023.
With the agenda finalized, NAfME’s public policy staff will now turn our attention to disseminating and discussing our legislative priorities on Capitol Hill and with officials at the U.S. Department of Education. Our goal is to influence the development of the FY 2023 appropriations bills as Congress begins the drafting process this spring. Stay tuned for updates and other ways that you and your fellow music educators can be advocates for the profession!
May 17, 2022. © National Association for Music Education (NAfME.org)
