H.R. 7855 — GAAME Act of 2026

This section expands the required instructional components of schoolwide program plans under ESEA Title I-A (20 U.S.C. 6314(b)(7)(A)(iii)) by adding sequential, standards-based arts education taught by certified arts educators (as defined by the state) and community arts providers to meet challenging state academic standards. It defines "arts" for this purpose as dance, media arts, theater, and visual arts.

This section requires schoolwide program plans under Title I-A of the ESEA to include sequential, standards-based music education aligned to challenging state academic standards and taught by certified music educators (as defined by the state). (Schoolwide programs enable high-poverty schools to consolidate federal, state, and local funds—including Title I-A funds—to upgrade their entire educational program.)

This section expands authorized Title I activities in targeted assistance schools—where funds must serve eligible disadvantaged children with the greatest need rather than all students—to include programmatic assistance for arts programs addressing academic needs, such as support for certified arts educators (as defined by the State), arts educator professional development, supplies, and other arts instruction expenses. It defines "arts" for this purpose as dance, media arts, theater, and visual arts.

This section expands permissible uses of Title I-A funds in targeted assistance schools (i.e., schools serving only eligible low-income children with supplemental services, not schoolwide programs) to include programmatic assistance for students to participate in music programs addressing their academic needs (e.g., support for certified music educators, music educator professional development, instruments, sheet music, music technology, and other music instruction expenses).