Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Act
PL 106-533 (S.2789), enacted 11/22/2000

PUBLIC LAW 106-533—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT. 2545 
Public Law 106-533 
106th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Congressional Award Act to establish a Congressional Recognition 
for Excellence in Arts Education Board. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION FOR EXCELLENCE IN 
ARTS EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Congressional Award Act (2 U.S.C. 801-
808) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"TITLE II—CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNI-
TION FOR EXCELLENCE IN ARTS EDU-
CATION 
Nov. 22, 2000 
[S. 2789] 
Congressional 
Recognition for 
Excellence in 
Arts Education 
Act. 
"SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
"This title may be cited as the 'Congressional Recognition for 
Excellence in Arts Education Act'. 
"SEC. 202. FINDINGS. 
"Congress makes the following findings: 
"(1) Arts literacy is a fundamental purpose of schooling 
for all students. 
"(2) Arts education stimulates, develops, and refines many 
cognitive and creative skills, critical thinking and nimbleness 
in judgment, creativity and imagination, cooperative decision-
making, leadership, high-level literacy and communication, and 
the capacity for problem-posing £ind problem-solving. 
"(3) Arts education contributes significantly to the creation 
of flexible, adaptable, and knowledgeable workers who will 
be needed in the 21st century economy. 
"(4) Arts education improves teaching and learning. 
"(5) Where parents and families, artists, arts organizations, 
businesses, local civic and cultural leaders, and institutions 
are actively engaged in instructional programs, arts education 
is more successful. 
"(6) Effective teachers of the arts should be encouraged 
to continue to learn and grow in mastery of their art form 
as well as in their teaching competence. 
"(7) The 1999 study, entitled 'Gaining the Arts Advantage: 
Lessons from School Districts that Value Arts Education', found 
that the literacy, education, programs, learning and growth 
2 u s e 801 note. 
2 u s e 811. 
114 STAT. 2546 
PUBLIC LAW 106-533—NOV. 22, 2000 
described in paragraphs (1) through (6) contribute to successful 
districtwide arts education. 
"(8) Despite all of the literacy, education, programs, 
learning and growth findings described in paragraphs (1) 
through (6), the 1997 National Assessment of Educational 
Progress reported that students lack sufficient opportunity for 
participatory learning in the arts. 
"(9) The Arts Education Partnership, a coalition of national 
and State education, arts, business, and civic groups, is an 
excellent example of one organization that has demonstrated 
its effectiveness in addressing the purposes described in section 
205(a) and the capacity and credibility to administer arts edu-
cation programs of national significance. 
2 use 812. 
"SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS. 
"In this title: 
"(1) ARTS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP.—The term 'Arts Edu-
cation Partnership' means a private, nonprofit coalition of edu-
cation, arts, business, philanthropic, and government organiza-
tions that demonstrates and promotes the essential role of 
arts education in enabling all students to succeed in school, 
life, and work, and was formed in 1995. 
"(2) BOARD.—The term 'Board' means the Congressional 
Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Awards Board 
established under section 204. 
"(3) ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; SECONDARY SCHOOL.—The terms 
'elementary school' and 'secondary school' mean— 
"(A) a public or private elementary school or secondary 
school (as the case may be), as defined in section 14101 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 8801); or 
"(B) a bureau fimded school as defined in section 1146 
of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2026). 
"(4) STATE.—The term 'State' means each of the several 
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the 
United States Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall 
Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic 
of Palau. 
2 use 813. 
"SEC. 204. ESTABLISHMENT OF BOARD. 
"There is established within the legislative branch of the Fed-
eral Government a Congressional Recognition for Excellence in 
Arts Education Awards Board. The Board shall be responsible for 
administering the awards program described in section 205. 
2 use 814. 
"SEC 205. BOARD DUTIES. 
"(a) AWARDS PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.—The Board shall estab-
lish and administer an awards program to be known as the 
'Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Awards 
Program'. The purpose of the program shall be to— 
"(1) celebrate the positive impact and public benefits of 
the arts; 
"(2) encourage all elementary schools and secondary schools 
to integrate the arts into the school curriculum; 
"(3) spotlight the most compelling evidence of the relation-
ship between the arts and student learning; 
PUBLIC LAW 106-533—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT. 2547 
"(4) demonstrate how community involvement in the cre-
ation and implementation of arts policies enriches the schools; 
"(5) recognize school administrators and faculty who pro-
vide quality arts education to students; 
"(6) acknowledge schools that provide professional develop-
ment opportunities for their teachers; 
"(7) create opportunities for students to experience the 
relationship between early participation in the arts and devel-
oping the life skills necessary for future personal and profes-
sional success; 
"(8) increase, 
encourage, 
and 
ensure 
comprehensive, 
sequential arts learning for all students; and 
"(9) expand student access to arts education in schools 
in every community. 
"(b) DUTIES.— 
"(1) SCHOOL AWARDS.—The Board shall— 
"(A) make annual awards to elementary schools and 
secondary schools in the States in accordance with criteria 
established under subparagraph (B), which awards— 
"(i) shall be of such design and materials as the 
Board may determine, including a well-designed certifi-
cate or a work of art, designed for the awards event 
by an appropriate artist; and 
"(ii) shall be reflective of the dignity of Congress; 
"(B) establish criteria required for a school to receive 
the award, and establish such procedures as may be nec-
essary to verify that the school meets the criteria, which 
criteria shall include criteria requiring— 
"(i) that the school— 
"(I) provides comprehensive, sequential arts 
learning; and 
"(II) integrates the arts throughout the cur-
riculum in subjects other than the arts; and 
"(ii) 3 of the following: 
"(I) that the community serving the school 
is actively involved in shaping and implementing 
the arts policies and programs of the school; 
"(II) that the school principal supports the 
policy of arts education for all students; 
"(III) that arts teachers in the school are 
encouraged to learn and grow in mastery of their 
art form as well as in their teaching competence; 
"(IV) that the school actively encourages the 
use of arts assessment techniques for improving 
student, teacher, and administrative performance; 
and 
"(V) that school leaders engage the total school 
community in arts activities that create a climate 
of support for arts education; and 
"(C) 
include, 
in 
the 
procedures 
necessary 
for 
verification that a school meets the criteria described in 
subparagraph (B), written evidence of the specific criteria, 
and supporting documentation, that includes— 
"(i) 3 letters of support for the school from commu-
nity members, which may include a letter from— 
"(I) the school's Parent Teacher Association 
(PTA); 
114 STAT. 2548 
PUBLIC LAW 106-533—NOV. 22, 2000 
"(II) community leaders, such as elected or 
appointed officials; and 
"(III) arts organizations or institutions in the 
community that partner with the school; and 
"(ii) the completed application for the award signed 
by the principal or other education leader such as 
a school district arts coordinator, school board member, 
or school superintendent; 
"(D) determine appropriate methods for disseminating 
information about the program and make application forms 
available to schools; 
"(E) delineate such roles as the Board considers to 
be appropriate for the Director in administering the pro-
gram, and set forth in the bylaws of the Board the duties, 
salary, and benefits of the Director; 
"(F) raise funds for the operation of the program; 
"(G) determine, and inform Congress regarding, the 
national readiness for interdisciplinary individual student 
awards described in paragraph (2), on the basis of the 
framework established in the 1997 National Assessment 
of Educational Progress and such other criteria as the 
Board determines appropriate; and 
"(H) take such other actions as may be appropriate 
for the administration of the Congressional Recognition 
for Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program. 
"(2) STUDENT AWARDS.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—^At such time as the Board deter-
mines appropriate, the Board— 
"(i) shall make annual awards to elementary school 
and secondary school students for individual inter-
disciplinary arts achievement; and 
"(ii) establish criteria for the making of the awards. 
"(B) AWARD MODEL.—The Board may use as a model 
for the awards the Congressional Award Program and the 
President's Physical Fitness Award Program. 
"(c) PRESENTATION.—The Board shall arrange for the presen-
tation of awards under this section to the recipients and shall 
provide for participation by Members of Congress in such presen-
tation, when appropriate. 
"(d) DATE OF ANNOUNCEMENT.—The Board shall determine an 
appropriate date or dates for announcement of the awards under 
this section, which date shall coincide with a National Arts Edu-
cation Month or a similarly designated day, week or month, if 
such designation exists. 
"(e) REPORT.— 
Deadline. 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall prepare and submit 
an annual report to Congress not later than March 1 of each 
year summarizing the activities of the Congressional Recogni-
tion for Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program during 
the previous year and making appropriate recommendations 
for the program. Any minority views and recommendations 
of members of the Board shall be included in such reports. 
"(2) CONTENTS.—The annual report shall contain the fol-
lowing: 
PUBLIC LAW 106-533—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT. 2549 
"(A) Specific information regarding the methods used 
to raise funds for the Congressional Recognition for Excel-
lence in Arts Education Awards Program and a list of 
the sources of all money raised by the Board. 
"(B) Detailed information regarding the expenditures 
made by the Board, including the percentage of funds that 
are used for administrative expenses. 
"(C) A description of the programs formulated by the 
Director under section 207(b)(1), including an explanation 
of the operation of such programs and a list of the sponsors 
of the programs. 
"(D) A detailed list of the administrative expenditures 
made by the Board, including the amounts expended for 
salaries, travel expenses, and reimbursed expenses. 
"(E) A list of schools given awards under the program, 
and the city, town, or county, and State in which the 
school is located. 
"(F) An evaluation of the state of arts education in 
schools, which may include anecdotal evidence of the effect 
of the Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts 
Education Awards Program on individual school cur-
riculum. 
"(G) On the basis of the findings described in section 
202 and the purposes of the Congressional Recognition 
for Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program described 
in section 205(a), a recommendation regarding the national 
readiness to make individual student awards under sub-
section (b)(2). 
"SEC. 206. COMPOSITION OF BOARD; ADVISORY BOARD. 
2 USC 815. 
"(a) COMPOSITION.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall consist of 9 members 
as follows: 
"(A) 2 Members of the Senate appointed by the Majority 
Leader of the Senate. 
"(B) 2 Members of the Senate appointed by the 
Minority Leader of the Senate. 
"(C) 2 Members of the House of Representatives 
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
"(D) 2 Members of the House of Representatives 
appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
"(E) The Director of the Board, who shall serve as 
a nonvoting member. 
"(2) ADVISORY BOARD.—There is established an Advisory 
Board to assist and advise the Board with respect to its duties 
under this title, that shall consist of 15 members appointed— 
"(A) in the case of the initial such members of the 
Advisory Board, by the leaders of the Senate and House 
of Representatives making the appointments under para-
graph (1), from recommendations received from organiza-
tions and entities involved in the arts such as businesses, 
civic and cultural organizations, and the Arts Education 
Partnership steering committee; and 
"(B) in the case of any other such members of the 
Advisory Board, by the Board. 
114 STAT. 2550 
PUBLIC LAW 106-533—NOV. 22, 2000 
"(3) SPECIAL 
RULE FOR ADVISORY BOARD.—In making 
appointments to the Advisory Board, the individuals and entity 
making the appointments under paragraph (2) shall consider 
recommendations submitted by any interested party, including 
any member of the Board. 
"(4) INTEREST.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—Members of Congress appointed to 
the Board shall have an interest in 1 of the purposes 
described in section 205(a). 
"(B) DIVERSITY.—The membership of the Advisory 
Board shall represent a balance of artistic and education 
professionals, including at least 1 representative who 
teaches in each of the following disciplines: 
"(i) Music, 
"(ii) Theater, 
"(iii) Visual Arts, 
"(iv) Dance. 
"(b) TERMS.— 
"(1) BOARD.—Members of the Board shall serve for terms 
of 6 years, except that of the members first appointed— 
"(A) 1 Member of the House of Representatives and 
1 Member of the Senate shall serve for terms of 2 years; 
"(B) 1 Member of the House of Representatives and 
1 Member of the Senate shall serve for terms of 4 years; 
and 
"(C) 2 Members of the House of Representatives and 
2 Members of the Senate shall serve for terms of 6 years, 
as determined by lot when all such members have been 
appointed. 
"(2) ADVISORY BOARD.—Members of the Advisory Board 
shall serve for terms of 6 years, except that of the members 
first appointed, 3 shall serve for terms of 2 years, 4 shall 
serve for terms of 4 years, and 8 shall serve for terms of 
6 years, as determined by lot when all such members have 
been appointed. 
"(c) VACANCY.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^Any vacancy in the membership of the 
Board or Advisory Board shall be filled in the same manner 
in which the original appointment was made. 
"(2) TERM,—^Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occur-
ring before the expiration of the term for which the member's 
predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the 
remainder of such term. 
"(3) EXTENSION.—Any appointed member of the Board or 
Advisory Board may continue to serve after the expiration 
of the member's term until the member's successor has taken 
office. 
"(4) SPECIAL RULE.—Vacancies in the membership of the 
Board shall not affect the Board's power to function if there 
remain sufficient members of the Board to constitute a quorum 
under subsection (d). 
"(d) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the Board shall 
constitute a quorum. 
"(e) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Board and Advisory 
Board shall serve without pay but may be compensated, from 
amounts in the trust fund, for reasonable travel expenses incurred 
PUBLIC LAW 106-533—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT. 2551 
by the members in the performance of their duties as members 
of the Board. 
"(f) MEETINS.—The Board shall meet annually at the call of 
the Chairperson and at such other times as the Chairperson may 
determine to be appropriate. The Chairperson shall call a meeting 
of the Board whenever Vs of the members of the Board submit 
written requests for such a meeting. 
"(g) OFFICERS.—The Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson of 
the Board shall be elected from among the members of the Board, 
by a majority vote of the members of the Board, for such terms 
as the Board determines. The Vice Chairperson shall perform the 
duties of the Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson. 
"(h) COMMITTEES.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board may appoint such committees, 
and assign to the committees such functions, as may be appro-
priate to assist the Board in carrying out its duties under 
this title. Members of such committees may include the mem-
bers of the Board or the Advisory Board. 
"(2) SPECIAL RULE.—^Any employee or officer of the Federal 
Government may serve as a member of a committee created 
by the Board, but may not receive compensation for services 
performed for such a committee. 
"(i) BYLAWS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—The Board shall 
establish such bylaws and other requirements as may be appro-
priate to enable the Board to carry out the Board's duties under 
this title. 
"SEC. 207. ADMINISTRATION. 
2 USC 816. 
"(a) IN GENERAL.—In the administration of the Congressional 
Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program, the 
Board shall be assisted by a Director, who shall be the principal 
executive of the program and who shall supervise the affairs of 
the Board. The Director shall be appointed by a majority vote 
of the Board. 
"(b) DIRECTOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Director shall, in con-
sultation with the Board— 
"(1) formulate programs to carry out the policies of the 
Congressional Recognition for Excellence in A:is Education 
Awards Program; 
"(2) establish such divisions within the Congressional Rec-
ognition for Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program 
as may be appropriate; and 
"(3) employ and provide for the compensation of such per-
sonnel as may be necessary to carry out the Congressional 
Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program, 
subject to such policies as the Board shall prescribe under 
its bylaws. 
"(c) APPLICATION.—Each school or student desiring an award 
under this title shall submit an application to the Board at such 
time, in such manner and accompanied by such information as 
the Board may require. 
"SEC. 208. LIMITATIONS. 
2 USC 817. 
"(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to such limitations as may be pro-
vided for under this section, the Board may take such actions 
and make such expenditures as may be necessary to carry out 
the Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education 
Awards Program, except that the Board shall carry out its functions 
114 STAT. 2552 
PUBLIC LAW 106-533—NOV. 22, 2000 
and make expenditures with only such resources as are available 
to the Board from the Congressional Recognition for Excellence 
in Arts Education Awards Trust Fund under section 211. 
"(b) CONTRACTS.—The Board may enter into such contracts 
as may be appropriate to carry out the business of the Board, 
but the Boara may not enter into any contract which will obligate 
the Board to expend an amount greater than the amount available 
to the Board for the purpose of such contract during the fiscal 
year in which the expenditure is made. 
"(c) GIFTS.—The Board may seek and accept, from sources 
other than the Federal Government, funds and other resources 
to carry out the Board's activities. The Board may not accept 
any funds or other resources that are— 
"(1) donated with a restriction on their use unless such 
restriction merely provides that such funds or other resources 
be used in furtherance of the Congressional Recognition for 
Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program; or 
"(2) donated subject to the condition that the identity of 
the donor of the funds or resources shall remain anonymous. 
"(d) VOLUNTEERS.—The Board may accept and utilize the serv-
ices of voluntary, uncompensated personnel. 
"(e) REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY.—The Board may lease (or 
otherwise hold), acquire, or dispose of real or personal property 
necessary for, or relating to, the duties of the Board. 
"(f) PROHIBITIONS.—The Board shall have no power— 
"(1) to issue bonds, notes, debentures, or other similar 
obligations creating long-term indebtedness; 
"(2) to issue any share of stock or to declare or pay any 
dividends; or 
"(3) to provide for any part of the income or assets of 
the Board to inure to the benefit of any director, officer, or 
employee of the Board except as reasonable compensation for 
services or reimbursement for expenses. 
2 use 817a. 
"SEC. 209. AUDITS. 
"The financial records of the Board may be audited by the 
Comptroller General of the United States at such times as the 
Comptroller General may determine to be appropriate. The Comp-
troller General, or any duly authorized representative of the Comp-
troller General, shall have access for the purpose of audit to any 
books, documents, papers, and records of the Board (or any agent 
of the Board) which, in the opinion of the Comptroller General, 
may be pertinent to the Congressional Recognition for Excellence 
in Arts Education Awards Program. 
2 use 817b. 
"SEC. 210. TERMINATION. 
"The Board shall terminate 6 years after the date of enactment 
of this title. The Board shall set forth, in its bylaws, the procedures 
for dissolution to be followed by the Board. 
2 use 817c. 
"SEC. 211. TRUST FUND. 
"(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF FUND.—There shall be established in 
the Treasury of the United States a trust fund which shall be 
known as the "Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts 
Education Awards Trust Fund". The fund shall be administered 
by the Board, and shall consist of amounts donated to the Board 
under section 208(c) and amounts credited to the fund under sub-
section (d). 
PUBLIC LAW 106-533—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT. 2553 
"(b) INVESTMENT.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—It shall be the duty of the Secretary 
of the Treasury to invest, at the direction of the Director 
of the Board, such portion of the fund that is not, in the 
judgment of the Director of the Board, required to meet the 
current needs of the fund. 
"(2) AUTHORIZED INVESTMENTS.—Such investments shall be 
in public debt obligations with maturities suitable to the needs 
of the fund, as determined by the Director of the Board. Invest-
ments in public debt obligations shall bear interest at rates 
determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into consid-
eration the current market yield on outstanding marketable 
obligations of the United States of comparable maturity. 
"(c) AUTHORITY TO SELL OBLIGATIONS.—Any obligation acquired 
by the fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at 
the market price. 
"(d) 
PROCEEDS FROM CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS CREDITED TO 
FUND.—The interest on, and the proceeds from the sale or redemp-
tion of, any obligations held in the fund shall be credited to and 
form a part of the fund.". 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The Congressional Award Act 
(2 U.S.C. 801-808) is amended— 
(1) by inserting after section 1 the following: 
"TITLE I—CONGRESSIONAL AWARD 
PROGRAM", 
(2) by redesignating sections 2 through 9 as sections 101 2USC80l-8( 
through 108, respectively, 
(3) in section 101 (as so redesignated)— 
(A) by striking "Act" and inserting "title", and 
(B) by striking "section 3" and inserting "section 102", 
(4) in section 102(e) (as so redesignated)— 
2 USC 802. 
(A) by striking "section 5(g)(1)" and inserting "section 
104(g)(1)", and 
114 STAT. 2554 
PUBLIC LAW 106-533—NOV. 22, 2000 
(B) by striking "section 7(g)(1)" and inserting "section 
106(g)(1)", and 
2 use 803. 
(5) in section 103(i), by striking "section 7" and inserting 
"section 106". 
Approved November 22, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2789: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): 
Oct. 27, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 31, considered and passed House.