Advocacy in Action

Join the DMEA Advocacy team! 
Interested in being a part of the Advocacy team? There is always room for more advocates! Follow this link to fill out the advocacy interest form.
    Advocacy Interest Form 
Music In Our Schools Month:
Share your Music In Our Schools month celebrations with DMEA. We want to know how you and your students celebrated MIOSM.
What’s happening in current legislation:

• Local & State
  
  • ​​Governor John Carney officially proclaimed March 2023 as Music In Our Schools Month. 
    
  • Tax season… Now is the time many districts/charters are preparing their budgets for next school year. Is there something that may be concerning you? Has your program, parts of your budget, or even staff been considered for cuts? If you have any concern about this being a possibility for you, please reach out ASAP. 
• Federal: 
  
  • Arts ARE Education National Campaign, Formerly the “Arts Education is Essential”
    
    • Sign the Pledge to pass the Resolution https://www.artsareeducation.org/our-resolution 
      
  • A resolution to federally designate March as Music in Our Schools Month has been introduced to congress. Thanks to NY Representative Nydia Velasquesz and NJ Senator Cory Booker. Reach out to DE Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester today and request their support for this resolution. Follow the link below to votervoice.net and share your story and request to our state representatives and learn more about the resolution. 
    
  • Voter Voice - Support MIOSM  
    
  • Dec. 19th President Biden signed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 appropriations bill. Key funding areas, specifically impacting music education, received slight increases:
    
    • Title I, Part A - $18.4 B (5% increase over FY22)
      
    • Title II, Part A - $ 2.19 B (1% increase over FY22) 
      
    • Title IV, Part A - $1.38 B (8% increase over FY22)\
      
    • IDEA, Part B - $16.3 B (22% increase over FY22)

Please reach out and tell me about your current needs, ideas and suggestions. If you are in need of any assistance, maybe you’re not sure if you are but have questions about advocacy. 
Our greatest resource is each other,
Anna Ramon 
DMEA Advocacy Chair