Category: Advocacy

ESSER Funding & Advocating for your Art Program

Earlier this summer, MAEAs Advocacy Liaison, Alice Gentili attended an important advocacy webinar organized by NAEA. This Town Hall webinar focused on the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funding (ESSER) and Visual Arts, Design, and Media Arts Education.
If you haven’t already, the MAEA Board suggests you first start by reading Alice’s article in the most recent edition of the MAEA News (Vol. 7–No. 1 Summer Edition 2021). Her article can be found on page 26. There you will find more information about harnessing ESSER funding, as well as additional links to resources. Then we suggest you check out the slide deck from the NAEA Town Hall and the webinar, if you have time.
Additionally, if you have any questions or ideas for how MAEA can support your advocacy efforts, please reach out to Alice at advocacy@massarted.com.
August 3, 2021 Melissa Mastrolia 0

An Important Message from MAEA Advocacy Liaison, Alice Gentili

Hello friends and colleagues! 

I’m reaching out to you today to introduce you to a new national campaign in support of arts education for all students. The Arts Are Education campaign addresses three timely concerns during the current season of budget creation in a most unusual time when Massachusetts schools are facing:

– Budget shortfalls due to state and local budget deficits caused by the pandemic recession.

– A focus on remediation for pandemic learning loss, potentially leading to limited access to arts education for students who are behind. 

– A continued need for personal protective and sanitization equipment unique to the visual art classroom to mitigate viral spread.

Here‘s what you can do today:

March 3, 2021 Melissa Mastrolia 0

MAEA Guidelines for Visual Art Education in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

MAEA has released guidance for PreK-12 schools, administrators, and arts educators as they plan for the 2020-2021 school year, to ensure that we may continue to provide meaningful arts instruction for all students in Massachusetts. Click on the link to view the MAEA Guidelines for Visual Art Education in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic drafted by members of the Massachusetts Art Education Association.

The mission of MAEA is to advance high quality visual arts education for all students by empowering ‍‍art educators‍‍ to excel in the practice, instruction, promotion, and celebration of visual art.

August 3, 2020 Melissa Mastrolia 0

DESE Guidance on Arts Courses

Commissioner Riley shared DESE guidance for arts and physical education courses on July 24. We encourage arts educators to look over this guidance as they being to prepare for the fall. Please note, this guidance is being released in late July 2020 and may be revised as DESE continues to monitor COVID-19 trends and the latest medical research. On pages 3-4 you will find details regarding shared equipment and on page 7 you will find specific details related to the visual arts.

After you review these recently released guidelines, for those of you teaching in public schools, we also suggest you continue to connect with your education association (locally and at the state level) for continued updates regarding advocating for the safety of children, families AND educators.

July 26, 2020 Melissa Mastrolia 0

2 Survey Requests – Arts for All

We know the crucial role arts education plays in our students’ academic and personal success. As Massachusetts Public Schools respond to the COVID-19 crisis, plan for the upcoming school year, and address budget shortfalls, arts education is particularly vulnerable. The Arts for All Coalition is working to protect arts programs and educators to ensure equitable access to creative outlets for all students, and they need your help.

They are gathering information about district funding plans so they can identify at-risk schools and support action to protect them. They rely on the networks and knowledge of arts advocates like you to help them stay updated and alert to what is happening in your district.

1. Please fill out the Potential Arts Education 2020 Cuts Survey with any information you have regarding cuts to arts education programs!

Your input will be shared with arts education advocates across the Commonwealth, but your personal information will not be shared. If you are able please pass this link along to your network of parents, educators, and arts advocates so they can broaden our knowledge base.

The Arts for All Coalition has also begun collecting important data for districts in Massachusetts for future advocacy efforts. You may have seen Arts|Learning already looking for the names and contact information for District Arts Coordinators and/or Arts Department Chairs as well as Parent Support or Booster Groups for the Arts.

2. Please fill out the Advocacy Database Survey today to support future advocacy efforts!

July 18, 2020 Melissa Mastrolia 0

MA Arts Guidelines – Drafted by the Massachusetts Arts Coalition

The Massachusetts Arts Coalition* shared the guidance document Arts Education in the Time of a Pandemic: COVID-19 Reopening Guidelines for Massachusetts PreK-12 Arts Programs with Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley on June 30, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, who shared a similar document specific to health, PE, recreation, and dance. This document is meant to serve as guidance for PreK-12 schools, administrators, and arts educators as they plan for the 2020-2021 school year, to ensure that arts educators can continue to provide meaningful arts instruction for all students in Massachusetts. Drafted by the *Massachusetts Arts Coalition: Arts|Learning, Boston Area Kodály Educators, Massachusetts Art Education Association, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, MASSCreative, Massachusetts Dance Education Organization, Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild, Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association, Massachusetts Music Educators Association, and The New England Chapter of American Orff Schulwerk Association.
The Massachusetts Arts Coalition will share discipline specific guidance soon.

July 2, 2020 Melissa Mastrolia 0

Advocate for Arts Education During COVID-19

Right now, the Commonwealth and its cities and towns are grappling with major losses in tax revenue and increased sanitation costs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In facing these hard decisions, several school districts have laid off educators, including arts educators. As schools plan to reopen in the fall, students will need more educators and resources that support their social and emotional learning, not less. Reach out to your MA Legislators to advocate for the protection of Chapter 70 Education Funding and equitable access to quality education. Advocate for Arts Education here.

MAEA has organized additional resources on our advocacy page, including more resources from MASSCreative and the Arts for All Coalition.  There are advocacy resources available here to help support and advocate for your local and state arts programs. In addition, use these images to help promote the arts on your websites, blogs, and social media pages.

Right click to download the image below and share using the hashtag #ArtsEdIsEssential #VisualArtsEdMatters #wickedsmART and tag @NAEA or (@WhyArtMatters on Instagram) and @MassArtEd.

June 25, 2020 Melissa Mastrolia 0

Advocate for Arts Education During COVID-19

During these uncertain times, MAEA members are working hard to advocate for the continuation of rigorous arts education programs and educators. There are advocacy resources available here to help support and advocate for your local and state arts programs. In addition, use these images to help promote the arts on your websites, blogs, and social media pages.

Right click to download the image below and share using the hashtag #ArtsEdIsEssential #VisualArtsEdMatters #wickedsmART and tag @NAEA or (@WhyArtMatters on Instagram) and @MassArtEd.

May 30, 2020 Melissa Mastrolia 0

Arts Education Is Essential: A Unified Statement From Arts and Education Organizations

As likeminded arts and education organizations, NAEA and 52 other national groups have come together to release a unified statement on the necessity of arts education for all students, “Arts Education Is Essential”.

Download one of the images below and share using the hashtag #ArtsEdIsEssential #VisualArtsEdMatters #wickedsmART and tagging @NAEA or (@WhyArtMatters on Instagram) and @MassArtEd.


 

See the original post from NAEA here.

May 30, 2020 Melissa Mastrolia 0