Orchestras engage their local communities in ongoing, active learning in the arts through innovative music education programs. As local partners in music education, orchestras collaborate with schools to maximize the direct and indirect funding opportunities available from the U.S. Department of Education. The Assistance for Arts Education program fund (formerly the Arts in Education programs) has survived repeated proposals for elimination, saw a $6 million increase for an FY22 funding level of $36.5 million, and received the same level of funding for FY23.  The League is calling on advocates to urge Congress to appropriate $40 million (the program's highest funding level, from ten years ago) for the Assistance for Arts Education programs in the FY2024 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill.

Talking Points 

• Increased funding would support the Assistance for Arts Education programs at the U.S. Department of Education and newly emerging models in high-poverty schools that improve arts learning.
• A reduction below the current level could result in under-funding multi-year projects that are midstream.
• The U.S. Department of Education provides grants through the Assistance for Arts Education programs to strengthen the arts as part of a well-rounded education. Arts Education grants have served more than 230 congressional districts in 33 states.