In the News: New York State's Pending Museum Education Act
By Carol Brown, Administrative Coordinator for Arts in Education, Eastern Suffolk BOCES

In the 21st century, the future of our democracy and the strength of our economy depend on each individual’s ability to think critically, learn new skills, and adapt to a rapidly changing culture and economy.

– R. Martin, Director, Institute of Museum and Library Services

The value of museums in educating the whole child is taking center stage in New York.  The Museum Education Act, recently introduced to the state legislature, recognizes that museums are centers of learning and have the educational resources to potentially improve student performance. 

The Museum Education Act directly aligns New York State’s unparalleled cultural resources with the state learning standards and the Education Department Regents P–16 (Pre-school through bachelor’s degree) Plan for Action. Once enacted, this powerful act will create new resources for museums and schools, enabling them to provide teachers and students with essential learning tools that ultimately will make New York more competitive in the global economy.

The Museum Education Act:

• Creates a partnership between schools and cultural institutions to prepare students for the 21st century.
• Provides resources for museums and schools to develop standards-based educational programs
• Provides access for all New York State students to our cultural heritage
• Supports innovative teaching strategies for the learning of 21st century skills

The Act allocates $30 million to cultural institutions through a formula-based grant program; through competitive grant programs for the development of innovative standards-based educational programs in museums and not-for-profit performing arts institutions, other cultural institutions, and community organizations; and includes an evaluation and assessment component to document the effectiveness of these programs in addressing NYS Department of Education Regents’ learning priorities.

We encourage those of you in New York State to please contact your state legislator to support this important education legislation. For those of you not in New York, please share museum education initiatives that take place in your state.  If you have information on their successes and challenges, please include this pertinent information.

http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/education/museumeducationact

Carol Brown is a MER board member