III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 54 

Expressing support for the designation of March 2023 as ‘‘Music in Our 

Schools Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 9, 2023 

Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. PADILLA, and Mr. TESTER) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of March 2023 as 

‘‘Music in Our Schools Month’’. 

Whereas music has been present in every known human culture throughout history and modern times; 

Whereas music is one of the most important manifestations 

of the cultural heritage of the United States, as music 

embodies our national identity and illustrates our shared 

history; 

Whereas music education helps communities share ideas and 

values among cultures and generations, promoting a more 

cooperative and inclusive citizenry; 

Whereas singing has existed in classrooms in the United 

States since before the signing of the Declaration of 

Independence; 


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•SRES 54 IS 

Whereas, in 1838, music as its own curriculum was first 

adopted by public authority in the public schools of Boston, Massachusetts; 

Whereas the development of a musical people has been and 

remains dependent on a public commitment to the teaching of music in all schools; 

Whereas State legislatures and educational agencies have 

supported music as part of the regular school curriculum; 

Whereas the Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114– 

95; 129 Stat. 1802) identified music as part of a wellrounded education; 

Whereas music is a means for exploring the emotional and 

aesthetic dimensions of the human experience; 

Whereas music holds intrinsic value as an art form, providing 

opportunity for self-expression, fellowship, and spiritual 

fulfillment; 

Whereas research has documented that participation in school 

music programs promotes student engagement, leading to 

improved social and academic outcomes, particularly for 

at-risk students; 

Whereas research has documented that participation in school 

music programs also promotes cognitive, social, and emotional development, exercising skills valuable to the workforce such as motivation, attentiveness, self-discipline, 

teamwork, persistence, empathy, respect, and leadership; 

and 

Whereas students attending public school in urban or rural 

communities, public schools with a high percentage of 

students from low-income families, and public schools 

that are majority Black, Hispanic, or Native American, 


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•SRES 54 IS 

experience the most inequity in access to music education: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘Music in Our 

3 Schools Month’’; and 

4 (2) recognizes— 

5 (A) the fundamental importance of music 

6 to the culture of the United States; 

7 (B) the long history of music as an inte8 gral part of the schools in the United States; 

9 (C) the disparate access to high-quality 

10 music education that exists across the United 

11 States; and 

12 (D) the need to do more to support the 

13 teaching and learning of music in public 

14 schools. 

Æ 


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