NAfME News
States MEAs Can Now Sign the Arts Education is Essential Statement
The Arts Education is Essential statement has been an important part of ongoing advocacy efforts for NAfME and other arts education advocates to ensure continued music and arts education in schools throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 113 national organizations have signed onto this statement, and now your MEA can join us and sign this statement. Send this link to your MEA President and ask them to sign your MEA onto the Arts Education is Essential statement. Thank you to those state MEAs that have already signed-on.
Updated Guidance
Recently the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) updated the Fall 2020 Guidance for Music Education, drawing on the preliminary results of the Aerosol Research Study for the performing arts, underway at the University of Colorado, Boulder and the University of Maryland, College Park.
Please click the link to review the full updated Fall 2020 Guidance for Music Education.
State & National News
Alternative Credentials on the Rise
8/27/2020- ‘Interest is growing in short-term, online credentials amid the pandemic. Will they become viable alternative pathways to well-paying jobs?’
SC Department of Education seeks feedback on waiver from required testing
8/26/2020- ‘The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) is asking for the public’s feedback on a waiver from federally mandated assessments for the new school year.’
9/1/2020- ‘College enrollments declined sharply this summer among Black undergraduates and men, and at community colleges and rural institutions, raising worries about the fall and worsening equity gaps.’
How a legal fight over private school dollars could impact Illinois’ largest districts
9/1/2020- ‘Ten of Illinois’ largest public school districts have been told to set aside a combined total of $34.8 million in federal coronavirus relief for private schools within their boundaries.’
Indiana education officials change school funding rules for virtual learning in the pandemic
9/2/2020- ‘Exercising special power granted during the pandemic, Indiana education officials rewrote school funding rules Wednesday to prevent cuts for virtual learning due to the coronavirus.’
Research & Analysis
Learning Policy Institute reopening framework emphasizes reinvented approach to K-12 education
The Learning Policy Institute recently released “Restarting and Reinventing School: Learning in the Time of COVID and Beyond,” a framework outlining how policymakers and education decision makers can address how to safely, effectively and equitably deliver in-person and online education.
Policy Roundup complied by NAfME’s Matt Barusch.