Advocacy Resources

Advocacy has always been an important job of music educators. From the national and state level all the way to local administrators, parents, and students, music teachers constantly educate the public on the need and value of music. During the unprecedented circumstances we are now facing, advocacy has become even more important. Please take a moment to contact your representatives and fight for music to remain in schools.


NAfME and 52 other national organizations have joined together to create a statement about the importance of arts education. We invite you to read and share the statement with your administrators, representatives, and communities.


Arts Education is Essential Statement

NFHS Arts Advocacy Page

Careers in Music Information Page

Sample email, United States Congress


Copied directly from the National Association for Music Education. Be sure to include their name: i.e. “Dear Senator/Representative [surname]” Mr./Ms. is also appropriate.

Thank you for the work you're doing to support the country during these difficult times. I am particularly concerned about the state of education, and urge you to provide fiscal relief supporting state education budgets in the next package that Congress considers.

The pandemic and the subsequent closing of schools nationwide gives me cause for concern for students who will not receive a quality and well-rounded education once cuts to education budgets start to take place. The states are truly hurting right now with drastically diminished revenue, and education is so often the first area states look to cut when addressing budget shortfalls. Even now, states are already looking to cut millions of dollars across the board, including from education budgets.

Our states need support now. We ask that Congress support the states and the education of our nation's children by appropriating $200 billion to states in the next legislative relief package to backfill state education budgets. I implore you to include this relief to assure our nation's students that we support them and their families.

Sincerely,

Sample email, State of Michigan


Be sure to include their name: i.e. “Dear Senator/Representative [surname]” Mr./Ms. is also appropriate.

Thank you for the work you're doing to support Michigan during these difficult times. As a teacher, I am particularly concerned about the state of education, and urge you to protect per-pupil funding for all local districts in order ensure a robust education for all Michigan students.

Music and the arts are crucial components of a well-rounded education. A clinical education doesn’t allow students to make personal connections to joy, beauty, pain, grief, and hope. Music and the arts are unique in their ability to afford students the ability to make those connections.

 Our students need support now. We ask that the MIchigan House of Representatives and Senate urge the United States Congress to appropriate $200 billion to states in the next legislative relief package to backfill state education budgets. Further, we ask that the Michigan House of Representatives access the Budget Stabilization Fund as needed in order to protect schools and students from devastating cuts. 

Sincerely,

Talking points telephone, State of Michigan

  • Be sure to include your name, address, and zip code when leaving a message. Talking points adapted from the Michigan Education Association Public Affairs Department.
  • We simply cannot slash education funding with a devastating per pupil reductions. Cuts like this will create a lost generation of students. It would destroy the very fabric of our state, which is to educate every child so they can grow up to be active, informed participants in our society and our economy.

  • At the federal level, we have seen massive bailouts for airlines, banks and other large corporate industries suffering economic hardship as a result of this pandemic. Our students and our schools deserve no less consideration than those industries.

  • Schools need additional funding to provide PPE for teachers and education support professionals to protect students, colleagues, families and themselves.

  • Our schools will need additional funding to bridge the digital divide so that students – from urban to rural areas – have equal access to technology to help them falling behind academically.

  • Additional funding will also be needed for mental health supports and training for loss and trauma related to the COVID-19 crisis.

  • Our institutions of higher education also need emergency funding to stabilize their finances as they work through this crisis.

  • In addition, college students and recent graduates across the country are struggling under the financial strain caused by the pandemic – immediate relief is needed. Monthly federal student loan payments  and interest accrual, including commercially held Federal Family Education Loans and Perkins loans should be cancelled for the duration of the COVID-19 national emergency.


                                                                                                  

Michigan School Vocal Music Association

P.O. Box 1131

Big Rapids, MI 49307-1131

(231) 592 - 9344

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