Today, the 39-member team of U.S. House and U.S. Senate members approved a conference agreement to rewrite K-12 federal education law. The text of the agreement will be publicly released within a few days, with a House vote as soon as December 2. The agreement will bring about new federal education law impacting a whole generation of students.

Critically, the framework authorizes dedicated funding to support arts education model programs, after-school activities, professional development for arts educators and highlights the arts as central to a well-rounded education. Through the efforts of conference member and STEAM Caucus co-Chair Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), arts are also now included in Title IV STEM eligibility to increase participation in STEM.

The conference committee has now finished its work and the final bill will be on the House floor December 2 or 3rd. The Senate will follow.

Having tracked and lobbied education legislation for over a decade, Americans for the Arts staff will prepare further details of these federal policy changes in early December.