I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7261 

To authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities 

to carry out professional development for arts educators and creative 

arts therapists to learn how to best accommodate children with disabilities, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 6, 2024 

Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia (for himself, Mr. COHEN, Mrs. MCBATH, Ms. 

BALINT, Mr. GOLDMAN of New York, Ms. ROSS, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. FROST, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, and Ms. LEE of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants 

to eligible entities to carry out professional development 

for arts educators and creative arts therapists to learn 

how to best accommodate children with disabilities, and 

for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reimagining Inclusive 

5 Arts Education Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. INCLUSIVE ARTS EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 

3 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 

4 award, on a competitive basis, grants to eligible entities 

5 to carry out the activities described in subsection (d). 

6 (b) APPLICATIONS.—To be considered for a grant 

7 under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an appli8 cation to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 

9 containing such information as the Secretary may require. 

10 (c) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall not award a 

11 grant to— 

12 (1) a local educational agency that is served by 

13 a State educational agency that is awarded a grant 

14 under this section; or 

15 (2) a partnership that includes an entity de16 scribed in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subsection 

17 (f)(2)(c) if such entity is a member of a partnership 

18 that is awarded a grant under this section. 

19 (d) GRANT USES.—An eligible entity that receives a 

20 grant under this section shall use such funds to promote 

21 curricula, best practices, professional development for arts 

22 educators and creative arts therapists, and innovative ap23 proaches, including creative arts therapies in elementary 

24 schools and secondary schools, that— 


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1 (1) increase access for, and improve inclusion 

2 of, children with disabilities in such arts education; 

3 and 

4 (2) adapt classroom materials and lessons to 

5 accommodate children with disabilities. 

6 (e) PROGRAM PERIODS AND DIVERSITY OF

7 PROJECTS.— 

8 (1) GRANT PERIOD.—A grant awarded under 

9 this section shall be for a period of not more than 

10 3 years. 

11 (2) REAPPLICATION.—In a case in which an eli12 gible entity submits an application under subsection 

13 (b) and is not awarded a grant under this section— 

14 (A) the Secretary shall provide to such eli15 gible entity— 

16 (i) the reasons for denial of such ap17 plication, including a list of any selection 

18 criteria that the eligible entity did not 

19 meet; and 

20 (ii) a list of recommended changes to 

21 be made by the eligible entity to such ap22 plication before resubmission in order to 

23 meet such selection criteria; and 

24 (B) the eligible entity may resubmit such 

25 application in accordance with subsection (b) 


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1 not earlier than 1 year after such entity re2 ceives the information required under subpara3 graph (A). 

4 (3) RENEWAL.—The Secretary may renew a 

5 grant awarded under this section for one 2-year pe6 riod for an eligible entity that demonstrates to the 

7 Secretary the success of the program funded under 

8 the grant, such as through student, parent, or teach9 er satisfaction, or program efficacy. 

10 (4) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 

11 section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible 

12 entities that serve elementary schools or secondary 

13 schools that receive funds under title I of the Ele14 mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 

15 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.). 

16 (5) DIVERSITY OF PROJECTS.—In awarding 

17 grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure 

18 that, to the extent practicable, grants are distributed 

19 among eligible entities that serve— 

20 (A) geographically diverse areas, including 

21 urban, suburban, and rural areas; 

22 (B) Indian tribes or tribal organizations; 

23 and 

24 (C) elementary schools and secondary 

25 schools in varying socioeconomic areas. 


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1 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 

2 (1) CHILD WITH A DISABILITY.—The term 

3 ‘‘child with a disability’’ has the meaning given the 

4 term in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabil5 ities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401(3)). 

6 (2) CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIST.—The term 

7 ‘‘creative arts therapist’’ means a therapist who uses 

8 creative arts therapy. 

9 (3) CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY.—The term ‘‘cre10 ative arts therapy’’ means a therapeutic intervention 

11 that uses artistic endeavors or mediums (such as 

12 music, poetry, dance, or drama) to facilitate commu13 nication and emotional expression, enhance self14 awareness, and foster health and change. 

15 (4) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti16 ty’’ means— 

17 (A) a local educational agency; 

18 (B) a State educational agency; and 

19 (C) a partnership between an entity de20 scribed in subparagraph (A) or (B) and— 

21 (i) an institution of higher education; 

22 or 

23 (ii) a nonprofit organization with ex24 pertise relevant to the activities or prac25 tices described in subsection (d). 


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1 (5) ESEA TERMS.—The terms ‘‘elementary 

2 school’’, ‘‘professional development’’, ‘‘secondary 

3 school’’, and ‘‘Secretary’’ have the meaning given 

4 the terms, respectively, in section 8101 of the Ele5 mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 

6 U.S.C. 7801). 

7 (6) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 

8 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 

9 meaning given the term in section 102 of the Higher 

10 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). 

11 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

12 are authorized to be appropriated, in the aggregate, for 

13 fiscal years 2025 through 2029, $15,000,000 to the Sec14 retary to carry out this Act. 

Æ 


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