Current MENC Government Relations Strategy and Specifics Breakdown

View MENC’s government relations and advocacy agenda. This “living” document details MENC’s plan for achieving policy and legislative goals on behalf of music education, and offers a brief synopsis of our most up-to-date government relations and advocacy action plan. View the agenda here. 

Additionally, reference the collaboratively developed “Strengthen Arts Education in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: Legislative Recommendations” document for a more specific breakdown of MENC’s joint legislative efforts in conjunction with our arts in education community partners.

Special To The Legislative Memo

Arts Advocacy Day 2008 Enhances Community’s Profile, Emboldens Advocates

On April 1, Americans for the Arts, in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus, celebrated Arts Advocacy Day 2008. The day of speeches, music, congressional hearings, meet and greets, and hills visits has become an annual staple on Capitol Hill, with this year’s event drawing more than 500 arts advocates from across the country as well as attracting over 80 national co-sponsors (including MENC).

There were many exciting moments during the full slate of festivities: Representative Norm Dicks (WA-6), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, hosted a lively Congressional hearing entitled “Role of the Arts in Creativity and Innovation”. Featured speakers during the presentation included acclaimed actors Robert Redford and Kerry Washington, popular singer John Legend, The Conference Board CEO Jonathan Spector, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, and Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch. The majority of the invited guests’ testimony focused primarily on emphasizing to Congress the importance of developing sound arts public policies while appropriating increased funding for arts programs.

In addition to their remarks at the hearing, Kerry Washington and John Legend also gave lively and passionate speeches to the assembled crowd on the value of arts in our schools, and spoke personally to how the arts had aided each of them in going on to lead successful careers in the cutthroat entertainment industry. In between speakers, arts advocates, including MENC Director of Government Relations Chris Woodside and Government Relations Assistant Hannah Sharp, had the opportunity to discuss pertinent legislative issues with other key music education supporters from across the nation.

In addition, on the eve of Arts Advocacy Day, best-selling author and renowned expert on innovation, competition, and the changing workforce world, Daniel Pink was on hand to deliver Americans for the Arts’ 21st Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy. The Nancy Hanks Lecture, well regarded as a national forum for the discussion of arts policy, this year featured Pink offering what he referred to as a “hard-headed case for arts education.” Pink spoke eloquently of the immeasurable value the arts will have in an increasingly evolving 21st century American economy, and even went so far as to refer to arts education in this country as a fundamental ingredient for achieving professional success.

To view content from the 2008 Congressional Arts Handbook distributed to members of Congress on this year’s Arts Advocacy Day, please click here.

Jazz Appreciation Month Kicks Off In True Style

On March 31, at a star-studded media event that took place at CNN’s old “Crossfire” studio on the campus of The George Washington University in Washington, DC, Jazz Appreciation Month 2008 was officially launched. Leadership and others from the Smithsonian Institution, The George Washington University and a host of arts in education organizations (including MENC) were on hand to welcome legendary jazz artist Ramsey Lewis, who served as the primary host of the kick-off event to the annual month-long celebration. Among the highlights of the afternoon were Smithsonian Museum Director Brent Glass’ remarks regarding the global influence of America’s music, the Smithsonian’s accepting of a generous donation of rare archival material from Mr. Lewis, and an intimate on stage discussion between Lewis and jazz guitarist Larry Coryell concerning the future of jazz education in America.

Click here to learn more about Jazz Appreciation Month.

Recent Arts in Education News Clippings:

· Thanks to ambitious music education program, kids across the city know how to listen and learn
· Music and food flourish at Jazz Fest
· 1st National Arts In The School Day
· Board of Ed Considers New Elementary Art Program
· RANDY MCCOY: Tupelo’s public schools value art education
· Requirement becomes an option
· Music teachers sweat PE bill
· Arts education described as vital
· Redford, Legend ask legislators to better fund the arts
· Setting standards, cutting funding for arts education

No Child Left Behind

Recent NCLB News Clippings:

· House votes to withdraw from No Child Left Behind
· ‘Safe Harbor’ Offers Shelter From Strict ‘No Child’ Targets
· 5 Myths About No Child Left Behind

You Should Know …

… Scott Shuler has been elected 2008-2010 MENC President-Elect

Starting in July of 2008, Scott Shuler will apply his distinguished experience as a career public school and college music educator to his new position of MENC president-elect. Members elected Shuler to that office in elections that concluded this past March. President-Elect Shuler, who holds a Ph.D. from the Eastman School of Music, will serve as MENC president between 2010-2012.

A prolific writer and arts advocate, Shuler has championed the cause of music education on the local, state, and national levels. He is now the arts education specialist in the Connecticut State Department of Education.

Of his selection, Shuler said, “Music educators make an important contribution to children’s lives and therefore deserve the best possible support in every area, through professional development, through opportunities for communication with expert peers, and through strong advocacy. As the central organization for music and music educators, MENC must be the hub of the great collaborative effort to provide that support.”

To learn more about MENC President-Elect Scott Shuler, please click here.

Take Action

California in Crisis … You Can Help!

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other state legislators currently face a $14 billion statewide budget deficit. Amongst cost cutting measures presently under consideration, legislation, supported by the Governor, has been introduced that could potentially result in the sacrifice of millions of dollars in once protected arts and more specifically, music education funds. For the moment, the crux of the debate is focused on fighting the cuts, and on finding ways to minimize the overall impact by ensuring the continued availability of funds previously allocated with the expression purpose of serving arts education in California schools.

California MENC members: please stay tuned in coming days for more information on how you can get involved with helping to fight these cuts. All MENC members: please consider taking a moment to call or write Governor Schwarzenegger to express your support for protecting music education in the great state of California.

Contact the Governor and let him know the critical importance of maintaining quality music programs in our schools: http://gov.ca.gov/interact#contact

Congressional Corner

Representative Pat Tiberi (R-OH)

Pat Tiberi is currently serving his fourth term as representative for Ohio’s 12th district. Congressman Tiberi is a former member of The Ohio State University Marching Band and the first in his family to graduate from college. Before his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Tiberi served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1993 to 2000 where he quickly rose to the position of House Majority leader.

Congressman Tiberi is a member of the House Financial Services committee and the House education and the Workforce committee, where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Select Education. Tiberi has authored legislation designed to it possible for more veterans to obtain federal jobs and to make home ownership a reality for more middle and lower income class families.

Representative Tiberi on the value of music education:

“Studying music can give a sense of participation, accomplishment, and discipline to students of all ages. Music education isn’t just about reading notes and playing instruments, it gives students a better understanding of history, of mathematics, of physics, and of symbols and languages. I enjoyed my years in my high school band and in The Ohio State University Marching Band, and I know participating in these groups helped me to excel in my other classes. As President Ronald Reagan said, ‘We must teach our students more than hard facts and floppy disks… fine music enriches both the student who studies it and the society that produces it.’”