Developing Arts Education Policy at the Federal Level: The First 10 Months of the National Education Taskforce

Most of the NET's committees have formulated advisory statements that, along with other information, are posted on our website at http://www.natedtaskforce.org In July of 2007, three other NET members and I joined four members of the Institute for Language Education and Policy (an English Language Learner advocacy group led by James Crawford, a member of the NET) in Washington, DC. Title V, Part A, Subpart 15, Arts in Education is amended- (a) in subsection 5551(a)(1) by inserting The arts are defined as creative activities and products of the theater, the visual arts, dance, music, and multimedia combinations of the above, and shall be henceforth referred to as 'the arts disciplines'; and (b) To foster divergent thinking as a counterbalance to the convergent thinking fostered by most school curricula, a goal of public education shall be that all children are taught the arts by arts specialists. [...] where do we stand today? * An art educator directs the NET. * The NET has forged a number of bipartisan relationships on Capitol Hill and established contact with two presidential candidates. * The NET's membership includes renowned members of the education field, as well as many unsung heroes of our public school classrooms.