Expressing support for the designation of March 2025 as "Music in Our Schools Month".
This is a non-binding House Resolution (H. Res. 257) introduced to express congressional support for designating March 2025 as “Music in Our Schools Month.” The resolution emphasizes the long-standing role of music in U.S. education and culture, highlights research showing benefits of participation in school music programs (academic, cognitive, social, and workforce skills), and calls attention to disparities in access to high-quality music education. While it does not create new laws or funding, it signals broad congressional backing for prioritizing music education in public schools and encourages continued support and investment in music teaching and learning. The measure references the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as recognizing music as part of a well-rounded education and frames music education as essential to student engagement and development. It also underscores the need to address unequal access to music programs in many schools, particularly in urban/rural areas and schools with higher concentrations of low-income students or minority students.
Key Points
- 1The resolution would designate March 2025 as “Music in Our Schools Month” by expressing the House’s support for the designation.
- 2It frames music as a fundamental part of American culture and a longstanding part of the U.S. school experience, with historical roots in school curricula.
- 3It cites research showing that participation in school music programs can boost student engagement and yield positive cognitive, social, and emotional outcomes, including workforce-ready skills.
- 4It acknowledges disparities in access to high-quality music education, noting that many students in urban or rural districts, low-income schools, and majority Black, Hispanic, or Native American schools have less access.
- 5It references ESSA’s identification of music as part of a well-rounded education and urges continued support for teaching and learning music in public schools.