Sponsors (19)
Official title: To authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities to carry out professional development for arts educators and creative arts therapists to learn how to best accommodate children with disabilities, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 9, 2025 by David Scott · Last progress June 9, 2025
The bill directs targeted support to expand inclusive arts education and teacher capacity for students with disabilities and disadvantaged schools, but limited funding, competitive grant design, and short grant terms constrain how many districts benefit and threaten long-term sustainability.
Students with disabilities will gain increased access to inclusive arts education and creative arts therapies in K–12 schools, expanding participation in arts and therapeutic programs.
Students in low-income and Title I schools will be prioritized for grants, directing resources toward districts that often lack arts services.
K–12 teachers and arts educators will receive professional development and support to better include students with disabilities in classroom and arts programs.
Schools and students nationwide may see limited benefit because the $15 million authorization over five years is modest and will constrain the number and size of grants.
Smaller and under-resourced districts (including rural communities) may be excluded from funding because the competitive grant process and application requirements favor applicants with grant-writing capacity.
Schools and students could face sustainability gaps because grant duration is limited (maximum 3 years plus one 2-year renewal), risking program cuts when federal funding ends.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a competitive Department of Education grant program to fund inclusive arts education and creative arts therapies for K–12 students with disabilities, with $15M authorized for FY2026–2030.
Creates a competitive Inclusive Arts Education Grant Program at the Department of Education to fund arts education and creative arts therapy for children with disabilities in elementary and secondary schools. Grants (up to 3 years, with one 2-year renewal for successful programs) prioritize entities serving Title I schools and must be awarded within 120 days of enactment; $15 million is authorized across FY2026–2030.