NAfME Legislative Memo: May 31, 2012

Well-Briefed Contingent of NAfME Leaders Will Visit Lawmakers on Capitol Hill in June

On June 26, approximately 100 state and division leaders from the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) will visit Capitol Hill to present a list of “asks” from music educators and from members of the Music Education Policy Roundtable (MEPR) to federal legislators.

The trip will follow advocacy discussions at NAfME’s Music Education Week, June 22-26, in Baltimore, Maryland. Music Education week will include professional development academies, performances by students in the NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, and the “Capitol Steps,” a satirical troupe.

During the National Assembly meeting MEPR agenda discussions will center on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary School Act (e.g., the arts as a core academic subject, music education data collection, and 21st-century skills development).

Currently, the Roundtable has thirteen member groups:

American Choral Directors Association
American Orff-Schulwerk Association
American String Teachers Association
Chorus America
Education Through Music
GRAMMY Foundation
League of American Orchestras
National Association for Music Education
National Association of Music Merchants
National Music Council
Percussive Arts Society
The Recording Academy
VH1 Save the Music Foundation

During Music Education Week National Assembly attendees will also visit Advocacy kiosks that will familiarize them with NAfME’s advocacy site, Groundswell, and the AdvocaSEE Mapper. The Mapper is interactive and offers a state-by-state look at advocacy activities.

A Capitol Hill briefing will be held at the law office of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP in Washington, DC, just prior to the June 26 Hill visits.

Next NAfME Webinar

On June 13, NAfME also will offer a Webinar on preparing for Capitol Hill visits. Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/200433328.