NAfME News
Call for Candidates 2024-2026 NAfME National President
NAfME is seeking candidates for NAfME National President for the years 2024-2026. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2021. Click here for more information.
Open Call for Questions for NAfME National President Candidates
Questions from the open call to members may be included in those asked of candidates for NAfME National President during consideration by the National Nominating Committee, and also, as part of a structured and moderated question-and-answer session before the National Assembly in June 2021.
March ALF Call
We will not hold an ALF call this month. ALF calls will resume in April—we can’t wait to hear about everyone’s MIOSM® activities!
Arts Education Partnership Launches New Blog
NAfME is a member of the Arts Education Partnership (AEP), a policy coalition organized under Education Commission of the States. AEP’s new blog will “provide a platform to showcase great work by partners and affiliates that might not be directly related to policy.” Click here to view the announcement.
National MIOSM® Events
Congressional Briefing: Arts Education and Social-Emotional Learning
NAfME will co-host a briefing focused on the relationship between arts education and SEL for congressional staff Wednesday, March 24 at 3:00 PM EDT. Click here to register for the briefing.
Young Composers Concert Will Take Place Online
The Akropolis Reed Quintet will premiere the works of winning student composers from the NAfME 2020 competition. The free concert will streamMarch 29 at 7:00 PM EDT. Click here to register.
State and Federal News
Ed Dept: Use American Relief Plan Funds For Quick, Safe School Reopenings
3/18/21 – “The quick and safe reopening of K-12 schools this spring is the U.S. Department of Education’s greatest priority, said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona during a press call Wednesday, the same day state education leaders received notices of their funding allocations under the federal American Rescue Plan.”
$10 Billion Coming To States For COVID Testing In Schools, As Feds Push For Reopening
3/17/21 – “School districts that were planning to spend some of their pandemic relief money on COVID testing got another financial boost Wednesday, as federal health officials announced they would provide $10 billion to states and some cities specifically for COVID testing in schools.”
Colorado District Uses High School Apprentices to Grow Its Own More Diverse Teacher Workforce
3/9/21 – “Now, five days a week for about three hours each day, Jones works with elementary students at Cherry Creek Elevation, the district’s online school option for students whose families opted out of in-person learning this year. She shadows a veteran fourth-grade teacher, holds “reading group” sessions for students who need extra help and even runs her own class two days a week. In the process, she has racked up college credits and earned admission into several in-state colleges and universities to continue her training as a teacher.”
Governors’ Top Education Priorities in 2021 State of the State Addresses
3/16/21 – “This Special Report captures analysis of 42 governors’ State of the State addresses and the education-related proposals mentioned within. In 2021, governors unsurprisingly focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for students, teachers and education more broadly.”
States Maintain Higher Ed Funding
3/16/21 – “Federal relief dollars appear to be enough to keep nationwide totals of state higher ed funding steady this fiscal year, even amid the pandemic. But almost half of individual states still reported funding declines.”
Georgia Passes Bill That Will Bring Digital Currency Education To High Schools
3/16/21 – “Young minds in the U.S. state of Georgia will soon begin to learn about digital currencies in high school. This is after the state’s House of Representatives passed a bill that calls for these schools to teach the students about financial literacy, with digital currencies being one of the areas of interest.”
12 Months After Pandemic Closed Schools, 12 Million Students Still Lack Reliable Internet
3/15/21 – “I told them ‘I just need basic service — this is for my children.’” Garcia said in Spanish through an interpreter. “Sometimes I can’t afford to pay one month, and sometimes my bills accumulate. It’s really hard because the internet is such an essential piece.”
Research and Analysis
Many Stressed K-12 Education Workers Consider Changing Jobs
3/11/21 – “Millions of worn-out K-12 educators and workers are wondering if their compensation is enough to justify the risk they are taking to teach kids during the pandemic. Vaccines will help, but it may not be enough.”
Experts: Culturally Responsive Practices Reduce Subjective Discipline Of Marginalized Students
3/16/21 – “Using students’ unique cultures as a basis for expected behaviors can help reduce discipline based on subjective decisions, said education experts who spoke during a virtual session at the Council for Exceptional Children’s Convention and Expo.”
Policy Roundup compiled by NAfME’s Rob Edwards.