Advocacy
We Need You to Help Shape the Future of Music Education Advocacy in Ohio!
The OMEA Advocacy Committee is asking for your help to strengthen music education advocacy across Ohio! Take the survey by clicking the button below or by clicking here: State of Advocacy Survey Link
This survey collects demographic information, explores familiarity with existing advocacy resources, identifies areas of success and concern, and gathers feedback on tools and initiatives that could better support music educators in advocating for their programs at the state and local levels. Participation is voluntary and responses will be reported in aggregate only.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences and perspectives! Your voice plays an important role in shaping the future of music education advocacy in our state.
Advocacy Videos:
Positive Music Advocacy Video
Q & A from an administrator perspective - Dr. Christen Davis from Bethel-Tate Middle School received the 2024 Outstanding Administrator award. Hear examples of how to advocate and guidance for administrators when it comes to working with music educators.
NAfME and OMEA visit Washington DC for Hill Day
OMEA members by visited politicians on both sides of the aisle in June to advocate for supporting equitable access to a well-rounded education that includes music and the arts for all of Ohio's school children. OMEA's delegation visited 4 Congressmen and Ohio's 2 Senators. The video below is a brief summary of our visit!
Now It's Your Turn - Share Your Story!
The Ohio Music Education Association is committed to advocating for the importance of music education in our schools. We'd love to hear how music has impacted your family, your student, and your own life. Your stories will help us to demonstrate the transformative power of music and support our efforts to ensure all students have access to quality music education. Your responses will be kept confidential (should you choose) and used for advocacy purposes only.
Resources from the National Association for Music Education (NAfME):
Music In Our Schools Month
Music In Our Schools Month® or "MIOSM" is NAfME's annual celebration during March which engages music educators, students, and communities from around the country in promoting the benefits of high quality music education programs in schools.
Music In Our Schools Month® began as a single statewide Advocacy Day and celebration in New York in 1973 and grew over the decades to become a month-long celebration of school music in 1985.
Music teachers celebrate MIOSM in many ways by offering special performances, lessons, sing-alongs and activities to bring their music programs to the attention of administrators, parents, colleagues, and communities to display the positive benefits that school music brings to students of all ages.
Take Action
In school districts nationwide, music education programs are being reduced or eliminated altogether. At the same time, we know that music education programs in schools offer a multitude of invaluable benefits for students ranging from collaboration and communication skills, creativity, self-expression, and leadership to improved academic outcomes.
NAfME advocates at the national, state, and local levels to educate elected officials and other decision makers about the impact and importance of music education programs. By working together, we are changing the national conversation about music's role in delivering an outstanding education to all students.
Gathering Information to Inform Your Own Advocacy Efforts:
Negotiated Contracts
If you are in a public school in Ohio, your local teacher’s union regularly negotiates with the school district on behalf of the certified staff. If you have concerns about how much you are being paid, the number of students in your class, or how your position could be affected in the event of budget cuts, the contract is the first place to look. If you are curious how your contract compares to that of neighboring districts, or even in a district where you may be applying for a position, the contract should have the answers to these questions. The State Employment Relations Board (SERB) maintains a searchable database of all negotiated contracts so that you can view the contracts of neighboring districts or districts with comparable attributes from across the state. Public Records Requests
As a public institution, your public school district, and all public school districts in Ohio, are required to operate in alignment with Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 419.43. This statute states that most records maintained by state, city, and other local officials (including school districts) qualify as publicly accessible. The Ohio Bar Association website provides recommendations for ensuring that you are successfully able to make a request, and a convenient template that you can utilize when doing so.
Other Resources:
Grassroots Advocacy Guide
As a parent, a community member or business owner, your voice must be heard to influence school budget and curriculum decisions to assure all children have access to music education. This website helps parents and community members influence support for music education in schools. It will guide you in communicating with school board members and administrators, who are the decision makers for every local district and who are influenced by the interests of the local population. Become a music advocate today and help ensure a high-quality education for all children.
Arts Education Data Project
This project provides a public dashboard that enables parents, educators, school administrators, and policymakers to track how arts education is being offered in Ohio schools and districts, track enrollment trends across a 5-year period, and gain insights into arts education participation at the school, district, and state levels.The interactive, color-coded dashboard displays arts access and enrollment data for Ohio’s K-12 schools as reported annually via the state’s Education Management Information System (EMIS). Data from ensuing school years will be added annually, allowing the project to show the status of arts education over time. OMEA Advocacy Committee
The OMEA Advocacy Committee's commitment to excellence in music education is evident through the diverse and targeted efforts of its sub-groups. By addressing various facets of music education and engaging with stakeholders at different levels, the committee aims to create a thriving environment that nurtures the musical talents of Ohio's students. Through collaboration, advocacy, and strategic initiatives, the committee aims to ensure that music education continues to flourish across the state. The OMEA Advocacy Committee has organized itself into several sub-groups, each focusing on a specific aspect crucial to the advancement of music education in Ohio.
- Administration
- Educating Parents, Administration, Community
- Social Media
- School Funding
- Support Group
- Purposeful Partnerships
- Strategies
- Inclusion of Students
- School-size
- Ohio Arts Data Project
- Paul Glader - Advocacy Chair
- Austin Ahlborn
- Aaron Backes
- Courtney Boswell
- Monica Ciesluk
- Kevin Dengel
- Ed Duling
- Lauren Eckersley
- Ben Factor
- Montana Fassnacht
- Stephen Fassnacht
- Kate Ferguson
- Angela Ferrell
- Emma Fitzpatrick
- Jarrod Hartzler
- Timothy Hoagland
- Jim Howell
- Emily Kelley
- Laura Kitchel
- Christin McClain
- Stephen Novak
- Courtney Nurre
- John Rodesh
- Emily Talley
- Amari Junkins (OCMEA Representative).
Parent Advocacy Letter of Support from OMEA
Parents, OMEA supports you and your students in Ohio music programs! Please read the advocacy letter of support. If you find that your district is in danger of having music programming eliminated or reduced due to failed levies or other reasons and you need further support, please send us a message.
Our Partners in Music Education Advocacy:
