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CHIME has focused its advocacy activities on its goals of having the DC Public School System:
- Include music education in the required curriculum of DC public elementary schools, and
- Make systemic changes to facilitate participation by the community in supporting and enriching the school curriculum.
We are happy that DCPS has announced plans to make music education mandatory (along with art and
P.E.) beginning with the 2003-04 school year. Until now it has been at the discretion of individual
Principals, many of whom have made other choices out of their allocated budgets. We are also happy
that some of CHIME’s suggestions for facilitating community curriculum enrichment are also being
implemented.
Our Advocacy Activities have included:
- Initiating a RESOLUTION passed by the DC Congress of Parent and
Teacher Associations demanding inclusion of music education in the required curriculum.
- Circulating a PETITION supporting the resolution, for which we have
gathered over 3,000 signatures so far.
- TESTIFYING at public hearings for many years on the need to provide for music education in the DC
Public School Budget.
- Forming CANDY {Coalition for Arts Now for DC Youth), a Coalition of
community leaders and organizations.
To read some of our testimony that was submitted in writing as well as orally, click on links below:
- Testimony to DC City Council Committee on Education, Libraries and Parks and Recreation, March 15, 2001, in favor
of including music education in the budget. This testimony was also submitted to hearings on this budget held previously
by the DC Board of Education and the Mayor.
- Testimony to DC Board of Education December 12, 2002, offering suggestions for facilitating community participation.
A letter was received from Superintendent Vance thanking us for the suggestions, and saying he planned to implement them.
- Testimony to DC City Council Committee on Education, Libraries and Parks and Recreation, March 25, 2003, defending
School Budget against proposed cuts by the Mayor that would jeopardize implementing proposed required music program, along
with other vital needs of the system.
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