CMEA has seen in the news and heard from education colleagues about the current available funds being allocated towards education. Indeed, there are unprecedented dollars that have arrived, or will soon arrive, to school districts. There are definitely opportunities for many of these funds to be spent on music education, but an allocation towards music will not occur unless we make a case and asks for funding for music education.
The purpose of this post is to detail the different funds that are best suited to music education, and the types of things in music that you could ask to be funded. Depending on the structure of your district and the process for financial planning, some of these funds may already be at your site. Your first point of contact should be your site administrator, who then may refer you to central office staff like an arts administrator (if you have one), curriculum and instruction leader, or finance officer.

CMEA recommends using funds for purposes specific to music education identified below:

• Summer or extended day opportunities which can also support recruiting efforts for fall music classes
• Backfilling salaries in case of low-enrollment due to lack of recruiting opportunities during the pandemic
• Subscriptions to online learning platforms
• Coaches for “small group instruction”
• One-time capital expenses such as instruments and mitigation such as instrument and choral masks, bell covers, and wireless microphones
• Professional learning for educators

State Funds

Please see this template provided by the state for more information. The state has been clear that these funds are not solely intended for remediation – there is great potential for innovation in music education and high engagement learning.  Expenditure Deadline is August 31, 2022

• In-Person Instruction
  • Salaries
• Expanded Learning Opportunities: As part of a learning recovery program, funds are to be used for supplemental instruction and support, including:
  • Expanded learning – extending the school year or day, or otherwise generally increasing the amount of instructional time/services provided
  • Learning supports – tutoring or similar small group instruction, learning recovery programs, training on accelerated learning strategies
  • Community learning hubs – includes access to technology and Connectivity

Federal Funds

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds/ESSER (from Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security/CARES Act and American Rescue Plan/ARP Act)

ESSER I, March 13, 2020-September 30, 2022

Relevant Uses of Funds

• Purchasing educational technology
• Summer school and after school programs,
• Funds for principals to address local needs
• Other activities to continue school operations and employment of
  existing staff

ESSER II, March 13, 2020-September 30, 2023

Relevant Use of Funds–same as ESSER I plus:

• Preparing schools for reopening

ESSER III, March 13, 2020-September 30, 2023Relevant Use of Funds–same as ESSER I & II plus this statement:

An LEA must reserve at least 20% of its total ESSER III allocation to address learning loss through intentions such as summer learning, extended school day/year, or after school programs. Any such intervention must respond to students’ academic, social, and emotional needs and address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underrepresented student groups.

For more information on Federal funds, consult this webpage from NAfME.