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Office of the Press Secretary
(New York, New York)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release June 16, 2000
FACT SHEET
President Clinton Encourages Support of Arts and Music Education
Today, President Clinton will participate in an event addressing
music education as part of "VH1 Save The Music Today!" week. The
President will underscore his commitment to music and art education and
the important role it plays in helping students achieve their full
potential. The VH1 Save the Music Foundation will also announce a major
donation to restore music education in the City of New York Public
Schools.
Over the past 7- years, the Clinton Administration has provided
leadership in this area and worked to give visibility to the importance
of the arts in children's education, including the following ways:
In 1994, the Clinton Administration fought for the inclusion of
strong, supportive language about the importance of arts education in
the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and the reauthorization of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act, two major pieces of education
legislation. This language has been used by arts education advocates to
gain funding and advocacy support in communities all around the country.
In 1995, the Clinton Administration created the Arts Education
Partnership, a partnership among the National Endowment for the Arts,
the U.S. Department of Education, and the Council of Chief State School
Officers. This unprecedented coalition coordinates over 120 nonprofit
arts and education organizations to promote research and advocacy on a
national level and give valuable information to parents and educators
about the positive effects and best practices in arts education.
As part of the new 21st Century Community Learning Program, the
Clinton Administration encouraged after-school programs to involve
students in arts activities, improving learning and keeping students
safe. Under the Clinton Administration's leadership, over the last four
years this program has increased from $1 million to $450 million.
In 1998, the U.S. Department of Education reinstated the arts in the
National Assessment of Educational Progress and found that instruction
in the arts, including music, improved student performance, supporting
the premise that the arts are not just the province of a gifted few.
Under Mrs. Clinton's leadership as Honorary Chair, the President's
Committee on the Arts and Humanities has released two important reports
highlighting successful in-school and out-of-school programs for
students in the arts (Coming Up Taller and Gaining the Arts Advantage).
VH1 and Time Warner Cable joined forces in 1997 and launched "Save the
Music," a program designed to restore and support music education in the
public schools. In its first year, "Save the Music" collected more than
$1 million worth of instruments in its effort to reinvigorate music
education in New York City, and is currently working to expand the
program into 40 communities, in 23 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.