The U.S. Department of Education Arts in Education program provides federal support to opera companies and performing arts organizations for the development, evaluation and dissemination of model programs that integrate arts instruction into other subject areas.

Additionally, the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act recognizes the arts as a core academic subject.

Advocates should urge Congress to appropriate $53 million for the Arts in Education programs in the FY09 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill and require the US Department of Education to produce timely comprehensive reports on the status of arts education in America’s public schools, when implementing the Fast Response Statistical Survey and the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Advocates should also urge Congress to 1) retain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects of learning; 2) reauthorize the Arts in Education Programs of the US Department to Education; 3) improve national data collection and research in arts education; and 4) require states to annually report on student access to all core academic subjects.

The most effective arts education advocacy takes place at the local level, where the majority of education policy is made. View the full Arts Education and No Child Left Behind Issue Briefs then take action to arts education at the Department of Education. Please visit the America Arts Alliance website to email your elected officials today!

• Unified Statement: Creating Student Success in School, Work, and Life
• No Child Left Behind Legislative Recommendations