Greetings from the new Advocacy Chair on the MMEA Executive Board!
I will be sending advocacy updates to MMEA members and all music educators around the state of Maryland throughout the school year. If you want to call attention to an advocacy issue
in your county or at your school, please contact me.
I hope you have a safe and successful start to the 2021-2022 school year!
Amy Hairston, Advocacy Chair
ahairston.mcea@gmail.com
Thank you to MMEA Membership and our community for advocating for music in our schools!
Over 125 letters were sent to Governor Hogan's office in support of this declaration.
We want to thank Governor Hogan for being a constant supporter of the arts!
From the Proclamation:
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, Governor Hogan, do hereby proclaim March 2022, as 'Music In Our Schools Month' in Maryland
and encourage all citizens to celebrate and acknowledge everyday but especially in March
that Music Education is an essential part of every student’s well-rounded education."
Thank you for supporting music education in Maryland!
Previous Advocacy Newsletters
The Opportunity Is NOW
For arts education to remain central to a well-rounded education and fully funded to support the wellbeing of all students and the entire school community, we must protect arts educators’ jobs and maintain K-12 arts programs. Towards that goal, the Arts ARE Education campaign asks that advocates:
-
Support passage of the ARE Resolution in school districts.
-
Encourage arts supporters to sign the ARE Pledge.
-
Write state legislators asking to support full funding for arts education in schools in their districts and to encourage schools to support the use of ESSER funds for arts educators and programs.
-
Access the ARE Advocacy Toolkit to support your grassroots advocacy efforts throughout the year.
-
Share Arts ARE Education testimony through the Arts ARE Education Talk it Up Video Testimony Challenge.
Advocacy in the Time of COVID
Advocacy in the COVID-19 Era: Using NAfME Resources to Engage as an Active Music Education Advocate
Co-Authored By:
Matt Barusch, NAfME State Advocacy Engagement Manager;
Brian Schneckenburger, MMEA President;
Ronald P. Frezzo, Former MMEA Advocacy Chair;
and JJ Norman, MMEA Executive Director
Arts Education is Essential
A Unified Statement From
Arts and Education Organizations
MMEA joined hundreds of fellow state and national organizations in signing the
Arts Education is Essential Unified Statement.
Please visit National Core Arts Standards
for more information.
Since every program has different goals and individual needs, the following organizations offer ideas and tools to help garner the most support and resources for your music program. These sites include regional and state agencies, federal institutions, and independent advocacy organizations.