How EdTA amplified the value of theatre education.
Advocacy Impact
The benefits of theatre education are obvious to supporters, and research has proven them: Theatre instills critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity. It builds empathy, acceptance, and self-image. Yet only 35% of US schools offer curricular theatre, according to the Arts Education Data Project.
EdTA acts as the national voice of theatre education, advocating to expand access for the millions of students who don’t have it, and championing a quality educational experience for those who do.
In 2023, the hot-button advocacy issue for school theatre was freedom of expression. As education has become increasingly politicized — at least 18 states have passed “divisive concepts” laws limiting discussion about racism, sexism, and discrimination in the classroom — teachers’ jobs have become more difficult.
How has that manifested in school theatre programs? Teachers are self-censoring their choice of theatrical materials. EdTA’s 2023 Play Survey found that 85 percent of the 2,390 respondents were at least somewhat concerned about censorship, and 67 percent said those concerns were influencing their choices for the 2023-24 school year.
Real-life stories of school theatre censorship were regularly in the headlines in 2023, particularly the cancelation or threatened cancellation of productions featuring LGBTQ characters and themes. In articles in the Washington Post, CNN, and Yahoo!, EdTA spoke up in favor of flexible gender casting and for teachers’ right to choose appropriate material for student learning.
To push for policies that increase access and funding for theatre education, EdTA organized an Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill in July. A dedicated cohort of 76 teachers and students from across the country organized 79 meetings with offices of their US Senators and Representatives. Additionally, three EdTA chapters — Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas — organized their own advocacy days at their state capitols, with 318 participants.
EdTA’s annual grassroots advocacy campaign, Theatre in Our Schools (TIOS) month, takes place each March. In 2023, TIOS garnered 385 social mentions and 15 media mentions during the campaign. EdTA bestowed TIOS Outstanding Impact Awards on Topeka West High School and Topeka High School in Kansas, as well as Harrison High School in Arkansas.
To support state and local advocacy, EdTA also provides an online toolkit of resources, used by 2,389 people in 2023, and hosts the volunteer-led Advocacy Leadership Network.
DEIA Progress
- EdTA is elevating diverse voices and perspectives in its efforts to advance the theatre education field, especially in the organization’s leadership. Half of EdTA’s board directors, including the Vice President, are BIPOC. The board is working toward governance policies to ensure diverse representation is maintained.
- EdTA invested in racial equity training for its staff, boards, and chapter directors in 2023 as part of developing its new three-year action plan. 85% of EdTA’s 40 active chapters have completed or are working on their own racial equity action plans, extending our DEIA commitment through the organization.
- Access to theatre education is lowest in schools with majority Black and Native American student populations. The strategic plan’s focus on advocacy underscores EdTA’s commitment to expanding access for these underserved students.
2023 Impact
Advocacy Resource Users
Federal Legislator Meetings
State Advocacy Day Participants
