NAfME News
Music In Our Schools Month® Resolutions
As you all know, Music In Our Schools Month ® is quickly coming up in March, and one of the best ways to raise awareness of music education and begin to garner support amongst elected officials is to introduce a resolution commemorating MIOSM in your state legislature. We urge all federated state associations to explore this option and introduce a MIOSM resolution in your state. Click here for more information on how you can introduce a resolution and to view some samples from states that have passed them.
State News
NM- Funding the Future: An early education trust fund
1/17/2020- ‘The term “trust fund babies” may evoke millennial hipsters in trendy urban neighborhoods living off wealth stockpiled by their more entrepreneurial parents or grandparents.’
Detroit DJs, producers talk start of techno and bringing music education to Detroit youth
2/16/2020- ‘Students and community members gathered for the Detroit Techno and Resistance symposium in celebration of Black History Month on Sunday afternoon at the Rackham Amphitheatre.’
2/17/2020- ‘The Performing Arts Department in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District appears to be doing quite well, but, as always, there is still room for improvement.’
NY- SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music hosting visiting master teachers
2/17/2020- ‘SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music with host two of its own alumni in an exploration of power and inclusiveness, during the Spring 2020 Joy Anthony Douglass ‘56 Visiting Master Teacher Program.’’
GA- Music teacher quits, says Clarke music, art programs threatened
2/14/2020- ‘The Clarke County School District’s award-winning music programs are threatened by stagnant funding and a change in “philosophy and direction” of the school district’s fine arts programs, according to a Clarke County music educator who abruptly resigned this week.’
Research and Analysis
Inequitable Opportunity to Learn: Student Access to Certified and Experienced Teachers
Decades of research show that access to fully certified and experienced teachers matters for student outcomes and achievement. Yet, providing all students with equitable access to such teachers has long been a struggle in U.S. schools. Recent teacher shortages have exacerbated these inequities in access, which disproportionately fall on students of color. This is especially concerning since achievement gaps between students of color and white students are substantially explained by inequitable access to qualified teachers.
Policy Roundup compiled by NAfME’s Matt Barusch.