A resolution expressing support for the designation of March 2023 as "Music in Our Schools Month".

Bill: 118-sres-54
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2023-02-09
Policy area: Education
Latest action: action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S331)

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-02-09
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution supports the designation of Music in Our Schools Month.</p>

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 54 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; 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 well-rounded 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, experience the most inequity in access to music education: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of Music in Our Schools Month ; and (2) recognizes— (A) the fundamental importance of music to the culture of the United States; (B) the long history of music as an integral part of the schools in the United States; (C) the disparate access to high-quality music education that exists across the United States; and (D) the need to do more to support the teaching and learning of music in public schools.