National Advocacy Efforts
About
The Coalition on Coalitions (CoCs) is a working group within the NAMM Foundation’s SupportMusic Coalition that supports NAMM members and their networks working on state-level music and arts education advocacy efforts. As a network of advocates, the CoCs provides tactics, resources and best practices to move and improve state-level policies, funding and advocacy for music and arts education. Toward this objective, NAMM has partnered with Americans for the Arts and the National Association for Music Education, to inform and connect NAMM Members with arts advocacy organizations in their states and to expand state and local advocacy effectiveness.
Coalition on Coalitions Dashboard, The CoCs dashboard on NAMM.org, serves as a nexus of information regarding specific state-focused music education advocacy efforts. The dashboard features a thumbnail summary of action alerts, status updates, NAMM Member contacts, and state-specific resources for active state coalitions in various stages of network.
Get Involved
Interested in becoming more involved? Start by filling out this form.
- Federal Advocacy Resources
SupportMusic Coalition
SupportMusic Coalition, The NAMM Foundation’s SupportMusic Coalition is a public service initiative that supports music education in local communities in the U.S. This advocacy effort now unites national, state and local organizations comprised of parents, business and community leaders, and educators seeking to improve access and opportunity in music and arts learning. To learn more or to join the coalition, please visit the NAMM Foundation website's Get Involved page.
NAMM Music Education Advocacy D.C. Fly-In
Each May, a group of NAMM members and special guests gather in Washington, D.C. to serve as advocates for the right of every child to learn and grow with music by visiting with their elected representatives on Capitol Hill. Learn more.
NAfME's Grassroots Action Center
Visit NAfME’s Grassroots Action Center and find how you can Support Music Education in Federal Education Policy, be involved with the legislative process, and engage your members in congress.
NAfME's BroaderMinded Blog
NAfMe's BroaderMinded blog features the latest developments in music education advocacy news, the latest in music education policy (legislative and regulatory), as well as around the clock election and campaign updates for 2016.
AFTA's Advocate Hub
View AFTA's Advocate Hub. The Hub stimulates local, state and federal advocacy for the arts.
AEP's ESSA Resources
View AEP's ESSA Resources to discover current information from national organizations, research institutes and think tanks regarding ESSA policy and resources.
Talking Up Music Education Podcasts
A podcast produced by The NAMM Foundation about music education. Host Mary Luehrsen chats with teachers, parents, students and community leaders who share stories about what they are doing to create music learning opportunities and the profound value that music education has brought to their lives.
Episode 48: Partners and collaborators from AEP and NAESP get specific on how to create resources that are accessible and informative for decision-makers in education.
Episode 20: The importance of building connections with your elected officials at every level.
Episode 14: The NAMM Foundation’s executive director Mary Luehrsen talks about ESSA.
- State Advocacy Resources
SupportMusic Coalition
SupportMusic Coalition, The NAMM Foundation’s SupportMusic Coalition is a public service initiative that supports music education in local communities in the U.S. This advocacy effort now unites national, state and local organizations comprised of parents, business and community leaders, and educators seeking to improve access and opportunity in music and arts learning. To learn more or to join the coalition, please visit the NAMM Foundation website's Get Involved page.
Tips for Producing Your Own Music Advocacy Booklet
Tips for Producing Your Own Music Advocacy Booklet, elements to consider when developing a music education advocacy booklet or gathering testimonials to share at state advocacy events.
Audio Files From NAMM Shows
- State Level Advocacy: What’s Happening and What’s Next. Jeff Poulin, Americans for the Arts. Audio recording.
- ESSA Update. Lynn Tuttle, NAfME. Audio Recording. Audio Recording.
- Advocacy at the Grassroots. Laurie Schell, Music Makes Us Nashville. Audio Recording.
- AFTA Resources and How to Advance Arts-friendly Policies in Education. Jeff Poulin, Americans for the Arts. Audio Recording.
- Federal Education Policy and ESSA. Lynn Tuttle, NAfME. Audio Recording.
- Policy Work at the Local Level. Laurie Schell, Music Makes Us Nashville. Audio Recording.
- Arts Education Partnership: Tools and Resources . Jane Best, Arts Education Partnership. Audio Recording.
Database of Facts and Quotes
Research Briefs: Did You Know? Advocacy resources in a database of cited facts and quotes to help make your case for supporting music education in schools.
The Arts Education Data Project
The Arts Education Data Project is collecting data and reporting on the status and condition of arts education in several states, providing a state-district-site view in an accessible dashboard format. The information also drills down to district and school building level music and arts education access data. To date, the project, funded in part by the NAMM Foundation, has completed in-depth assessments of arts programs listed below with plans underway for Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Texas.
Consolidated ArtsEd Data Website
View the recorded Dec. 13, 2018, Arts Data Project Webinar
For more information about the National Arts Education Data Project, contact Bob Morrison, CEO, Quadrant Research, Arts Education Data Project Director @ bobm@artsedresearch.org.
AEP's ArtScan
ArtScan, A searchable clearinghouse of the latest state policies supporting education in and through the arts from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This site includes not only policy language excerpted directly from each state’s education policies but also information on state-level surveys of arts education and a set of descriptive education indicators.
NAfME's ESSA State Plan Template
View NAfME's ESSA State Plan template.
NAfME's List of State ESSA Websites
NAfME compiled a list of State ESSA websites.
NAfME's State Advocay Contacts
View NAfME's state advocacy contacts: Advocacy Leadership Force.
NAfME's Civic Action Field Guide
NAfME's Civic Action Field Guide helps music education stakeholders better understand the processes behind how public education is governed and funded, with an eye toward supporting high-quality music education in districts and at the state level across the nation.
NAfME Title IV Toolkit
NAfME's Title IV Toolkit explains how funding works for Title IV, as well as frequently asked questions.
AFTA's Advocate Hub
View AFTA's Advocate Hub. The Hub stimulates local, state and federal advocacy for the arts.
AFTA's State Arts Advocacy Captain's List
AFTA's State Arts Advocacy Captain's List is a comprehensive list of state arts agencies, advocacy organizations, relevant news and expert advice.
AEP's ArtsEdSearch
ArtsEdSearch is the nation’s first research and policy database focused entirely on student and educator outcomes associated with in-school and out-of-school arts education and implications for policy based on existing research.
Talking Up Music Education Podcasts
A podcast produced by The NAMM Foundation about music education. Host Mary Luehrsen chats with teachers, parents, students and community leaders who share stories about what they are doing to create music learning opportunities and the profound value that music education has brought to their lives.
Episode 48: Partners and collaborators from AEP and NAESP get specific on how to create resources that are accessible and informative for decision-makers in education.
Episode 26: Featuring Heather Noonan, Vice President for Advocacy for the League of American Orchestras. Noonan share how having strong coalitions effect engaging national efforts.
Episode 25: AEP's director, Jane Best, discusses the work of the Education Commission of the States and what the org is doing to support theater arts, dance, drama, visual arts, and music.
Episode 20: The importance of building connections with your elected officials at every level.
Episode 16: A conversation featuring the statewide music and arts education advocacy effort in Indiana. Hear from IAEN organizers Mark Goff, NAMM Chairman, Pres/CEO of Paige’s Music and Lane Velayo, Indiana Music Education Association Executive Director.
- Local Advocacy Resources
SupportMusic Coalition
SupportMusic Coalition, The NAMM Foundation’s SupportMusic Coalition is a public service initiative that supports music education in local communities in the U.S. This advocacy effort now unites national, state and local organizations comprised of parents, business and community leaders, and educators seeking to improve access and opportunity in music and arts learning. To learn more or to join the coalition, please visit the NAMM Foundation website's Get Involved page.
A Parent's Guide to ESSA Brochure
A brochure that outlines how parents can advocate for expanding music and arts education opportunities as the new federal education law is implemented in each state and impacts local school districts.
Why Learn to Play Music Brochure
Why Learn to Play Music is a brochure available in English and Spanish, features up-to-date research and statistics highlighting the many benefits of music education. Available as a download for e-distribution.
Striking a Chord Brochure
Striking a Chord, NAMM Foundation Study finds that strong majorities of teachers and parents say music education is very important and should continue to be funded, and offered as part of curriculum and the school day. A large majority of Parents and Teachers believe that children should have opportunities to learn to play musical instruments as early as elementary school and that music and arts education are “extremely” or “very important.”
Database of Facts and Quotes
Research Briefs: Did You Know? Advocacy resources in a database of cited facts and quotes to help make your case for supporting music education in schools.
NAfME's Local Advocacy Plan
View NAfME's Local Advocacy Plan for pursuing new resources and opportunities to help provide students with high quality music education experiences.
NAfME's Civic Action Field Guide
NAfME's Civic Action Field Guide helps music education stakeholders better understand the processes behind how public education is governed and funded, with an eye toward supporting high-quality music education in districts and at the state level across the nation.
AFTA's Advocacy Toolkit
As a local arts organization, your organization can make a difference in conveying the impact of the arts and arts education in your communities to members of Congress. AFTA's Advocacy Toolkit provides resources, links and best practice advice.
AFTA's Advocate Hub
View AFTA's Advocate Hub. The Hub stimulates local, state and federal advocacy for the arts.
AFTA's Arts Services Directory
View AFTA's Arts Services Directory.
Talking Up Music Education Podcasts
A podcast produced by The NAMM Foundation about music education. Host Mary Luehrsen chats with teachers, parents, students and community leaders who share stories about what they are doing to create music learning opportunities and the profound value that music education has brought to their lives.
Episode 49: Featuring a conversation with NAfME’s Mike Blakeslee and Denese Odegaard. They discuss how to effectively prepare music teachers to ask for support from their administration.
Episode 32: A conversation with Linda Wagner, previously Anaheim Elementary Schools' Superintendent. Wagner shares what the district has done to achieve their goal of having a fully supported music program in every school.
Episode 23: Laurie Schell, Director of Music Makes Us, shares how the city of Nashville is helping advance music education.
Episode 21: David Dik, National Executive Director of Young Audiences Arts for Learning, discusses the importance of arts standards and giving teachers the ability to have flexibility within those standards that will equip students with the skills and methodology for success.
Episode 2: Dr. Nola Jones, Coordinator of Visual and Performing Arts for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, discusses the importance of music curriculum.