Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

Tell Your Rep. to Support Arts Education Tomorrow!

On Wednesday it was announced that the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to consider three dozen amendments to "The Student Success Act" (HR 5), a bill to reauthorize federal education programs. The full house is expected to vote on the bill tomorrow, and we need your help to make sure this legislation is improved upon and benefits the arts education community. This legislation push which was last completed in 2002, through the No Child Left Behind Act is aiming to reform the outdated policies and improve k-12 education.

 

Now through Friday, members of Congress will have the opportunity to vote on the Student Success Act, as well as a Democratic alternative. Each of these bills is likely to receive partisan vote outcomes. While pieces of the legislation include provisions to support arts education; the Democratic substitute retains the critical federal leadership that we believe will support the arts as essential to a complete education and address the equity gap that currently exists.

GroundSwell is asking you take a few moments and express your concerns for arts education. Arts education - dance, media, music, theatre, visual arts - is a necessary component for the development of a "well-rounded" student, it is vital that there is policy put in place to empower teachers, parents, students and the larger arts education community.

We need your help to emphasize the importance of arts programming and why supporting this legislation is essential to a complete education. 

Please contact your member of Congress and ask them to support HR 5. We have created a customizable letter for you. Please feel free to share your own stories on the importance of arts education in your community. When you're finish, be sure to complete your user information and your message will be sent to your Representative in Congress.

While you are at it, mark your calendars for National Arts Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on March 23-24. For those who are unable to attend, GroundSwell will be hosting our Second Annual Arts Advocacy Day Phonebank at the Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy on Tuesday, March 24 12-2. More details to come! 

On Wednesday it was announced that the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to consider three dozen amendments to "The Student Success Act" (HR 5), a bill to reauthorize federal education programs. The full house is expected to vote on the bill tomorrow, and we need your help to make sure this legislation is improved upon and benefits the arts education community. This legislation push which was last completed in 2002, through the No Child Left Behind Act is aiming to reform the outdated policies and improve k-12 education.