S. 4018 — GAAME Act of 2026

This section adds sequential, standards-based arts education (which may include dance, media arts, theater, and visual arts) taught by certified arts educators (as defined by the State) and community arts providers to the list of activities that Title I schoolwide program plans must provide to help all students meet challenging state academic standards. (Schoolwide programs under ESEA Title I allow high-poverty schools—at least 40% low-income students—to consolidate federal, state, and local funds for comprehensive improvement without identifying individual Title I-eligible students.)

This section adds to the list of high-quality instructional strategies in Title I schoolwide program plans—under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965—a requirement for 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 to upgrade their entire educational program.)

This section revises targeted assistance school programs under Title I-A of the ESEA—which provide services only to eligible children (i.e., typically from low-income families) identified as having the greatest need for special assistance, unlike schoolwide programs—(1) to specify that resources may help eligible children meet state academic standards through a well-rounded education, such as programmatic assistance for arts programs addressing their academic needs (including support for certified arts educators as defined by the state, arts educator professional development, supplies, and other arts instruction expenses); and (2) to define "arts" for this purpose as dance, media arts, theater, and visual arts.

This section adds music programs that address eligible students' academic needs as an allowable use of Title I-A funds in targeted assistance schools (i.e., Title I-A schools serving only identified low-income students), including support for certified music educators, music educator professional development, instruments, sheet music, music technology, and other music instruction expenses.