On January 19, the U.S. House of Representatives released the text of a minibus appropriations bill for FY 2026 that combines funding for Defense, Homeland, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation-HUD, providing much-needed funding for the 2026-207 school year.
Overall, the bill provides $79 billion to the U.S. Department of Education, increases funding for key programs such as Title I and IDEA, and rejects the president’s budget proposal to consolidate many K-12 education programs into a single block grant.
This is a critical time to show your support for arts education and for increased access and opportunities in dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts programs. We hope that you will contact your Representative and Senators and ask them to pass the bill ensuring continued funding for programs that can be used for a well-rounded education that includes the arts, including:
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Title I, Part A—Funded at $18.4 billion to provide additional support that ensures all children meet academic standards, achieve proficiency in arts education, and improve arts education in low-achieving schools.
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Title II, Part A—Funded at $2.19 billion to support teacher recruitment and retention, build the skills and expertise of educators, and increase the number of high-quality educators, including arts educators.
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Title IV, Part A—Funded $1.3 billion for Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants, a flexible block grant that can be used to: (1) provide students with a well-rounded education that includes the arts; (2) support safe and healthy students; and (3) enhance the effective use of technology.
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Assistance for Arts Education Program—Funded at $36.5 million to promote arts education for all students through professional development activities for arts educators; development and dissemination of accessible instructional materials; and community and national outreach activities that strengthen and expand partnerships among schools, districts, and centers for the arts.
We are also encouraged that Congress has expressed concern about the new interagency agreements announced on November 18, which shift management of key education programs—including those housed in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, such as Titles I, II, IV-A, and the Assistance for Arts Education program—from the U.S. Department of Education to Departments such as Labor, Interior, State, and Health and Human Services. We urge Congress to prevent further fragmentation of the Department of Education and to keep these programs where they belong.
This campaign includes a template message for your letter to Congress, but we encourage you to personalize your message and share why YOU support arts education.
