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THE WHITE HOUSE

                     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.

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