John King Jr., accompanied by President Barack Obama, speaks at the White House in October. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Secretary John B. King has called for a “renewed focus on well-rounded education for all students” at the Las Vegas Academy for the Arts in Nevada. The speech highlighted provisions in the new federal law, Every Student Succeeds Act, that sends a strong message to state and district policy makers that “every kid in this country needs and deserves access to the subjects that go into being a well-educated person. He cited subjects listed in the new law, including music and art, that are important in preparing students to be ready for today’s world. The new law replaced No Child Left Behind which marginalized subjects that were not tested. ESSA specifically addresses the need to provide access to well-rounded subjects for all students. Secretary King stressed that “It’s about being skilled and knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects, expert and passionate about a few, and confident in the quest for more knowledge.”
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), and its 10,300 member companies, support the Every Student Succeeds Act for its language providing access to a well-rounded education for all students. They have commended Secretary King for his comments and his leadership in this important direction, as the U.S. Department of Education moves forward with implementation of the new law and provides guidance to states and school districts.
In May, NAMM gears up for their annual DC Fly-In for music education. To read up on the last Fly-In, check out The Retailer’s coverage in last year’s July Issue.