Advocacy

On March 22, CMEA joined with CETA (Theatre Educators), CDEA (Dance Educators and CAEA (Art Educators) to present Stand Up 4 Arts Education Day. Due to continued school travel complications and a major renovation occurring in the State Capitol, this was a virtual event again this year. We plan to be in person in 2023. Watch the Virtual Rally Video that included special guest actor Brian Cranston, as well as wonderful student music, dance, theater performances and visual art work.

This year, our biggest "ask" is to ask for support of the Arts and Music Education in the Schools ballot measure. If you haven't heard about this ballot measure and our campaign to get the signatures to put it on the California ballot this November, here is a link to more information: https://voteartsandminds.org.

This ballot measure can be a genuine "game changer" for music education in California by allocating significant funding increases that would result in more music and/or arts teachers in every school and district in California! As of this publication, the ballot initiative has already collected the 623,212 valid signatures from registered voters to qualify for the November 2022 ballot..

Armalyn De La O Chad Zullinger Anne Fennell Trish Adams Laura Schiavo Russ Sperling Martha Zaragoza Diaz John Burn

Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath Chad Zullinger, CMEA Vice President Martha Zaragoza Diaz, CMEA Lobbyist

Assembly Bill 1718 (Boerner Horvath) Expanding Access to the Arts, World Languages, and Culture passed the Assembly Education Committee with a bipartisan, non-opposition vote! The bill would provide funding for the purchase of standards-aligned, instructional materials in arts education and world languages, and for professional development for teachers on the revised arts education and world languages content standards as well as their respective frameworks. On March 23, Past-President John Burn, Vice-President Chad Zullinger, and our lobbyist Martha Zaragoza Diaz spent the day at the Capitol providing testimony in support of the bill.

Past-president John Burn providing testimony for Assembly bill #AB1718 authored by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath.

The Benefits of a Standards-Based Music Education:

• Music and the arts are part of well-rounded subjects in ESSA 2014 and CA ESSA State Plan. • Leads to life-long learning and knowledge of self and culture. • Supports healthy social development. - Prepares young people to succeed in the 21st century workplace. • Facilitates student achievement and improves social and emotional growth