This bill aims to expand access to arts education and programming for people of all ages, from young children to adults in the criminal justice system. It allows more federal funding to be used for arts programs, requires states to report on their arts education offerings, and supports research and data collection on the role of arts in schools.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill aims to expand access to arts education and programming for people of all ages, from young children to adults in the criminal justice system. It allows more federal funding to be used for arts programs, requires states to report on their arts education offerings, and supports research and data collection on the role of arts in schools.
Last updated: 12/29/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Arts Education for All Act</strong></p> <p>This bill expands arts education and programming for children in early education, K-12 students, and juveniles and adults in the criminal justice system.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill allows Child Care and Development Block Grant funding to be used for additional activities, including arts programming.</p> <p>Additionally, the bill addresses arts programming in elementary and secondary schools by</p> <ul> <li>directing each state educational agency to include information on arts programming in its state plan, including how it will integrate arts education instruction into the curriculum and increase the number of arts teachers in schools;</li> <li>requiring state report cards to include information on arts courses;</li> <li>requiring local educational agency (LEA) plans to describe how the LEA will encourage the use of arts education to improve student achievement; and</li> <li>allowing certain funds to be used for professional development for arts teachers. </li> </ul> <p>The bill directs the National Center for Education Research to carry out research on the use of arts and arts education in elementary and secondary schools, including in low-performing schools. Further, the National Center for Education Statistics must compile data on arts education.</p> <p> The National Assessment of Educational Progress must include a specified arts assessment.</p> <p>The bill requires a state's juvenile justice and delinquency plan to describe how the state will coordinate services and activities for juvenile justice and delinquency prevention with arts agencies and arts organizations. Additionally, grants for adult offender reentry demonstration projects may be used for facilitating arts education.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Allows federal child care funding to be used for arts programs
Requires states to include information on arts education in their education plans and report cards
Supports research and data collection on the use of arts in K-12 schools, including in low-performing schools
Requires arts assessment in the National Assessment of Educational Progress
Directs states to coordinate arts programs with juvenile justice and adult offender reentry services
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
If this bill becomes law, it would increase access to arts education and programming for children in early education, K-12 students, and individuals involved in the criminal justice system. This could provide more opportunities for creative expression, learning, and rehabilitation, potentially benefiting students, young offenders, and adult offenders reentering society.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Education
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
5463, 119th Congress (2025). "Choice Arrangement". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-5463
