Some exciting developments are brewing in the nation's capital that relate directly to the future of music education, as well as recognition of its value to this country. As of November 30, 2011, the National Endowment for the Arts is leading a new task force of 13 federal agencies and departments to help fill the research gaps and build a stronger evidence base to inform future policy and practices nationwide. The task force is a result of The Arts and Human Development, a paper that proposes a framework for longterm collaboration among federal agencies to build capacity for future research and evidence sharing about the role of the arts in human development (see: http://arts.gov/pub/TheArtsAndHumanDev.pdf). Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services stated, "It is our hope that coming out of this meeting we can deepen our collaboration on research and identify new avenues for studying how the arts can improve all our lives."

Why is this important? Because government agencies are beginning to recognize that the arts have value as an issue of human health, both physically and emotionally. Teachers and advocates have been supporting the importance of education and participation in the arts to what seemed to be indifferent ears, until now. The urgent call to enhance research into what we currently know and feel about the benefits of the arts is an initial step in legislative recognition that has never occurred before.

On another related issue, on December 16, 2011, the U.S House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed the fiscal year 2012 funding bills, which appropriated $24,596,000 for Arts in Education programming. This is quite a victory, as the money had been zeroed out in the budget earlier this year. NAfME advocacy staff also weighed in with policy makers on the student assessment debate and explored the role of music education in developing 21st century skills. This is an educational movement of which we all should become intricately aware (see: http://p21.org/). The KMEA Advocacy Committee will be creating professional development for music teachers that will eventually lead to a Kansas Music Skills Map. It will be similar to what has been developed for the arts at: http://www.p21.org/component/content/article/2-publications/1020-artsmapresources.

Kansas Music Advocacy Network - We Need Your Help Now!
KMEA is developing a state-wide network of high-profile advocates who can be contacted at a moment's notice to help support school music on the district and state levels. We need your help to create a state-wide network of support. Your KMEA district president will be in contact and will ask you to submit one or two names of high-profile music education advocates. These advocates should be influential in the educational, cultural, and business communities. They should also be knowledgeable about the validity of music education.

Remember to ask the advocate's permission to use his/her contact information. For each advocate, please provide, as completely as possible, the information in the box to your district president.

Advocate Name:

Title:

Address:

City/Zip:

Phone Number:

E-Mail Address:

The primary objective of identifying and contacting these advocates is to offer additional support to music educators who provide quality music education in the schools. Music educators will be included in all communication regarding advocates, and will have final approval about what is communicated, to whom it is focused, and when it will occur.