Sponsors (19)
The bill expands inclusive arts education and supports for students with disabilities (prioritizing low-income schools and teacher training) but does so through modest, time-limited competitive grants that may leave many districts underfunded or unable to access sustained services.
K–12 students with disabilities — especially those in low-income/Title I schools — will gain increased access to inclusive arts education and creative arts therapies through targeted grant funding and prioritization.
Teachers and arts educators will receive professional development and supports to better include and teach students with disabilities, improving classroom practice and student inclusion.
Successful local programs can receive a one-time 2-year renewal, giving some grantees additional continuity and time to demonstrate impact before federal funding ends.
Schools and students may see limited benefit because the program is authorized at only $15 million over five years, restricting the number and size of grants and contributing to sustainability challenges once short-term funding ends.
Smaller or under-resourced districts, rural communities, and agencies without grant-writing capacity may be disadvantaged by competitive application requirements and project standards, reducing equitable access to funds.
Some local educational agencies could be ineligible to receive grants if their state education agency (SEA) receives an award, which may block certain districts from direct participation or local control of services.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a competitive grant program funding inclusive arts education and creative arts therapies for K–12 students with disabilities, authorizing $15M total for FY2026–2030.
Introduced June 9, 2025 by David Scott · Last progress June 9, 2025
Creates a federal competitive grant program to fund inclusive arts education and creative arts therapies for elementary and secondary students with disabilities. The Department of Education must set up the program and begin awarding grants within 120 days of enactment, with awards lasting up to three years and one possible two-year renewal for successful grantees.