HR7855Referred to Committee

GAAME Act of 2026

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Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2026-03-05
Introduced
7
Cosponsors
HR
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Nydia M. Velázquez
Nydia M. Velázquez
Democrat · NY · Representative
Votes with party: 97.2% (536 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/V000081

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (7)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

2026-03-05

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

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Plain-English Summary

Guarantee Access to Arts and Music Education Act of 2026 or the GAAME Act of 2026 This bill specifies that funds that support the instructional needs of elementary and secondary students from low-income families (i.e., Title I funds) may be used for arts and music programs. First, the bill specifies that schools operating school-wide programs may include descriptions related to arts and music education in their comprehensive plans. Such a plan may include a description of (1) how sequential, standards-based arts education taught by certified educators and providers meet the challenging state academic standards, and (2) how sequential, standards-based music education taught by certified educators align with the challenging state academic standards. Second, the bill specifies that schools operating targeted assistance programs may use funds for arts and music programs that address the academic needs of students. This assistance may include providing support for certified educators, professional development, supplies, instruments, and other expenses.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

Subjects

Education

Full Bill Text

Verbatim text published on Congress.gov via GovInfo. Use Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to search within this excerpt.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7855 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7855 To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to expand access to school-wide arts and music programs, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ 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>
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