S. 4018: Guarantee Access to Arts and Music Education Act of 2026

The "Guarantee Access to Arts and Music Education Act of 2026," referred to as the GAAME Act, proposes to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to ensure that students across the United States have increased access to arts and music education in their schools. Here are the key aspects of the bill:

Expanded Arts Education

The bill aims to secure that all students receive sequenced and standards-based arts education. This includes various forms of arts such as:

• Dance
• Media arts
• Theater
• Visual arts

This education must be taught by certified arts educators or community arts providers who can meet state academic standards.

Expanded Music Education

Similarly, the bill seeks to enhance music education access for students. It requires:

• Sequential, standards-based music education aligned with state academic standards.
• Instruction provided by certified music educators.

Support for Targeted Assistance Schools

The bill also addresses specific schools that may need additional resources, by enabling programmatic assistance for students to participate in arts and music programs that fulfill their academic needs. Such support can include:

• Funding for certified arts and music educators
• Professional development for educators
• Supplies necessary for arts education
• Instruments, sheet music, and technology for music instruction

Definitions of Arts and Music

To clarify the bill's provisions, it specifies the types of arts included under the definition of 'arts', which comprise dance, media arts, theater, and visual arts. This ensures that there is a universal understanding of the disciplines covered by the proposed educational requirements.

Implementation and Oversight

The bill necessitates that state education agencies oversee the implementation to ensure that these new arts and music educational standards are met throughout the school systems in a consistent manner.

Relevant Companies

None found.