Advocacy Update: March 2025

NAEA sees the value you bring to the field, your learners, and our professional community. These are unmistakably uncertain times and we want you to know that we are keeping our finger on the pulse of the latest developments, challenges, and supports for visual arts, design, and media arts education.

We stand behind the work of the association and the work of our members in classrooms, museums, universities, administration, research, and beyond. What we do as a community, as educators, as artists is essential to ensuring that the visual arts maintain an integral role in the curriculum and lives of learners everywhere.

Please read the information below, take action, and look for NAEA Advocacy Updates in your email inbox.  

TAKE ACTION! Make sure YOUR state’s elected officials hear from you on visual arts education funding!

It only takes 5 minutes! | Deadline is March 15!

The House appropriations committee approved its FY25 proposal for Labor-HHS-Education funding, which not only slashes Title I funding by 25%, but also proposes the complete elimination of Title II funding. In addition to slashing funding for two of the Department of Education’s (ED) most vital programs, the current proposal would eliminate the only Department of Education program focused on supporting the arts, the Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) program. To rationalize the elimination of AAE the appropriation committee’s report stated, “funding provided by the Department should be focused on core education such as reading, writing, and math”. This rationalization ignores the well-rounded focus of ESSA, as well as the benefits the arts provide across subject areas.

Now is a vital time to show our support for visual arts, design, and media arts education and federal programs that increase its availability by encouraging legislators to make every effort to provide sustained funding to programs critical to visual arts education. We urge NAEA members, parents, advocates, and all those who support visual arts education to reach out to their elected officials in Congress and share why YOU support visual arts education.

Reach elected officials with your story in less than 5 minutes.The current continuing resolution expires March 15—your story is crucial toward helping ensure arts education is funded! Click Here: Tell Your Story!

Arts Education Alliance Unified Statement: Standing Together for Arts Education

As members of the Arts Education Alliance, we are closely monitoring recent policy developments that could impact arts educators and students nationwide. With discussions around the future of the Department of Education and the many federal granting programs we all rely on, our unified voice is more important than ever. We are committed to working together to protect funding, increase access, and advocate for policies that support arts educators.

Through these unknown times our collective mission and shared efforts remain clear. We are steadfast in our commitment to:

• Ensure every student has access to a high-quality arts education as part of a well-rounded curriculum.

• Support educators by advocating for the resources, materials, space, and time needed for meaningful learning.

• Champion certified arts educators by urging districts to employ credentialed teachers and providing clear pathways for arts educators to obtain certification in their discipline.

We will keep you informed as we navigate these challenges together. In the meantime, we encourage you to stay engaged, connect with your professional association, and raise your voice in support of arts education.

About the Arts Education Alliance

The Arts Education Alliance is a partnership between the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), the National Art Education Association (NAEA), the National Association for Media Arts Education (NAMAE), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). The Arts Education Alliance brings our organizations together to amplify the value of arts education through joint advocacy work.

CLICK HERE to join the conversation and learn more about our shared advocacy efforts.

Nomination of Linda McMahon as U.S. Secretary of Education

A Summary of Remarks from the Confirmation Hearing

CLICK HERE to read the NAfME Blog post by Zachary Keita, Advocacy and Public Policy Communications Manager, National Association for Music Education.