HR 7855

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 5, 2026

Ms. Velazquez (for herself, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Norton, Ms. Titus, Mr. Davis of Illinois, and Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to expand access to school-wide arts and music programs, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Guarantee Access to Arts and Music Education Act of 2026” or the “GAAME Act of 2026”.

SEC. 2. SCHOOL-WIDE ACCESS TO ARTS EDUCATION.

Section 1114 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6314) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)(7)(A)(iii)—

(A) in subclauses (IV) and (V), by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

“(VI) sequential, standards-based arts education taught by certified arts educators (as defined by the State) and community arts providers to meet the challenging State academic standards; and”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(f) Definition of Arts.—For purposes of subsection

(b)(7)(A)(iii)(VI), the term ‘arts’ means dance, media arts, theater, and visual arts.”.

SEC. 3. SCHOOL-WIDE ACCESS TO MUSIC EDUCATION.

Section 1114(b)(7)(A)(iii) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6314(b)(7)(A)(iii)), as amended by section (2), is further amended by inserting after subclause (VI) the following:

“(VII) sequential, standards-based music education that is aligned to challenging State academic standards and is taught by certified music educators (as defined by the State); and”.

SEC. 4. TARGETED ASSISTANCE SCHOOLS FOR ARTS EDUCATION.

Section 1115 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6315) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by striking “well-rounded education;” inserting the following: “well-rounded education, such as—

“(i) programmatic assistance for students to participate in arts programs that address their academic needs (including support for certified arts educators (as defined by the State), arts educator professional development, supplies, and other expenses associated with instruction in the arts); and”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(i) Definition of Arts.—For purposes of subsection (b)(2)(A)(i), the term ‘arts’ means dance, media arts, theater, and visual arts.”.

SEC. 5. TARGETED ASSISTANCE SCHOOLS FOR MUSIC EDUCATION.

Section 1115(b)(2)(A) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6315(b)(2)(A)), as amended by section 4, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(ii) programmatic assistance for students to participate in music programs that address their academic needs (including support for certified music educators, music educator professional development, instruments, sheet music, music technology, and other expenses associated with music instruction);”. <all>