Issued jointly by Richard Frazier-Sostillio, EdTA Board President, and Jay Gerlach, Interim Executive Director CINCINNATI (August 27, 2026) — The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) is extremely disappointed to learn that
As a theatre educator, advocacy can sometimes feel like an abstract concept, something reserved for policy experts, state leaders, or people with time you simply don’t have. But most theatre
By Amber Friel, NAfME Communications Manager, Advocacy and Public Policy After months of intense advocacy and lingering uncertainty, the much-anticipated Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor–HHS–Education appropriations bill has been signed
On why theatre class matters—and how it changes lives offscreen When Stranger Things fans met Ms. Harris in season five, they were meeting more than just a new character in
The Arts Education Alliance is sounding the alarm over the Trump Administration’s recent decision to move several major U.S. Department of Education (ED) programs to other federal agencies through six
On a bright day in Washington, D.C., over 100 theatre educators, students, and advocates from 20 different states gathered for the Educational Theatre Association’s (EdTA) Advocacy Day 2025. The goal:
The Arts Education Alliance is pleased to learn that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has finally released the more than $6 billion in federal education funds that were
Stand Up for Arts Education: Oppose Federal Budget Cuts On May 30, President Trump released full details of his administration’s FY 2026 budget proposal. Cuts to federal education, including the
Speak Out Against Federal Budget Cuts Impacting Arts Education On May 2, President Trump released information about his administration’s FY 2026 budget proposal. Not all details were shared, but the
Details of President Trump’s Executive Order
Like you, we are deeply concerned about recent announcements regarding the significant staffing reduction at the Department of Education. We share your concerns about what this could mean for public
Theatre education is at a pivotal moment, balancing creative triumphs and student impact with pressing challenges for educators, from rising censorship concerns to funding hurdles. Compiling insights from over 1,800
It is not uncommon for theatre educators to feel like the work of their school theatre programs often takes a backseat to sports programs or other high-profile extracurricular activities. The
6 Tips on the New Education Department Guidance After years of advocacy from the arts education community, multiple meetings with U.S. Department of Education (ED) officials, and bipartisan support from
School theatre programs are faced with a range of issues—from finding funding and resources to produce shows, to sourcing relevant and useful professional development for educators. At the 2024 Theatre
March is Theatre in Our Schools (TIOS) month, an opportunity for thousands of educators and Thespians around the country to celebrate and showcase the transformative power of theatre education. Whether
As educators continue to look for opportunities to make school programs more inclusive, simply being aware of cultural differences and the need for DEI work is no longer enough. At
Many people today spend a third of their day more at work, and for educators, that number can be exponentially higher. According to a study by the RAND Corporation, during
Meet Kirsti Lewis and the Team at People Like Us
As educators make strides towards integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion in their programming, it can often be difficult to know where to start and how to quantify success. While many
For theatre educators, choosing a production can feel like a serious predicament. On the one hand, you want to provide Thespians with an opportunity to challenge themselves and explore complex
It’s that time of year again – Arts in Education Week is back, running from September 10-16. Established by Congress in 2010, the program helps highlight the power of arts
When someone with the star power of Michael James Scott (perhaps best known as Genie in Aladdin on Broadway) spends his one day off work to hop a flight from New York City to
March is Theatre in Our Schools Month, a joint venture between EdTA and the American Alliance of Theatre & Education (AATE). Each year, we encourage students, teachers, and theatre supporters
| by Cory Wilkerson | Each year when we launch the DemocracyWorks Essay Competition I fondly recall the time it took my students to get me into Pennsylvania state capitol
