National Association for Music Education (NAfME) joined 24 state music education associations (MEAs) and 17 members of the Music Education Policy Roundtable in supporting adequate funding for well-rounded programs found in Titles I-A, II-A, and IV-A of ESSA.
Shortly after the letter was sent, top congressional appropriators announced a bipartisan agreement to fund the federal government and boost defense and domestic budgets by $49 billion in fiscal year 2020, including a $1.3 billion increase in funding for the Department of Education.
Funding for a well-rounded education received a boost by increased funding in the following programs:
- $1.2 billion for Title IV Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, representing an increase of $40 million
- $16.3 billion for Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies, representing an increase of $450 million
- $2.1 billion for Title II Supporting Effective Instruction State grants, representing an increase of $76 million
The House and Senate both passed the appropriations agreement, and the President signed it into law on Friday, December 20. Thank you to our state MEAs and Roundtable Members that chose to advocate for this essential funding. And a special thank you to all music education advocates who spent 2019 writing letters, promoting through social media, and visiting lawmakers. These efforts have been rewarded and is yet another reminder that music education advocacy works.
Happy Holidays!
Tooshar Swain, Assistant Director of Public Policy, December 23, 2019. © National Association for Music Education (NAfME.org)
