NAEA Signs on to Department of Education Protection Act

NAEA, along with our partners in the Arts Education Alliance, have signed on to the Department of Education Protection Act, a bill that aims to shield the U.S. Department of Education from efforts to dismantle the agency by prohibiting the use of appropriated funds to decentralize, reduce the staffing level of, or alter the functionality of the Department.

A Message for Art Educators:

We know many of you are deeply concerned about the recent announcement regarding the significant staffing reduction at the Department of Education. Like you, we are watching these developments closely, and we share your concerns about what this could mean for public education, arts education, federal funding, and protections for students and teachers.

While this action signals a significant shift, it’s important to remember that fully dismantling a federal department requires congressional approval. We don’t yet know what shape the Department of Education may ultimately take, but we do know this: we will stand with you, we will fight for you, and we will continue advocating for visual arts educators and students every step of the way.

Visual Arts, design, and media arts education is not expendable. It is a vital part of student learning—helping young people develop empathy, collaboration, and critical thinking skills that prepare them for life. Any restructuring of the Department of Education must not come at the cost of student access to the arts or the professional standing of art educators.

We will continue to provide updates as more details emerge. In the meantime, we encourage you to take action by participating in this campaign to support federal funding impacting arts education. Give 5 minutes of your time to easily reach out to your elected officials in Congress. The deadline is March 15!