WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY-7) introduced a resolution that aims to support and provide students with more access to music and arts in our schools. The Music In Our Schools Month Resolution would support music in schools by affirming the importance of music education, highlighting the benefits students receive from its instruction, and recognizing the hard work of music educators across the country. 

“Music has been in America’s schools since before our nation’s inception, and research shows that access to a music education promotes development and teaches valuable skills that kids carry with them into adulthood,” said Senator Booker. “However, many kids today lack access to music education in their schools. This resolution recognizes the impact music has made on the culture of the United States, and the importance of ensuring every public school has the resources and support they need to include music in their curriculum.” 

“Music education opens doors for students in so many ways, whether creatively, emotionally, or academically," said Congresswoman Velázquez. “With arts federal arts funding under threat, we must recognize the importance of music education to students across the country and honor the teachers who make it possible.”

The resolution is endorsed by a broad coalition of organizations and institutions, including ArtPride New Jersey Foundation, New Jersey Council for the Humanities, New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA), Newark School of the Arts, Wharton Arts, Art Educators of New Jersey, Arts Ed NJ, NJ Symphony, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Music Will, El Sistema USA, Conn Selmer, Inc., Music Travel Consultants, Musicians Abroad, Heart of America Choir, Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, Bennett Travel, Education Through Music, A. Cuthbertson Consulting, the Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society, JazzSLAM, the Tullman Family Office, Hawaii Youth Symphony, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Rock and Soul Forever Foundation / TeachRock, George Mason University, League of American Orchestras, New Harmony Line, Feierabend Association for Music Education (FAME), the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, and the Music Teachers National Association, Institute pf Music for Children, National Association for Music Education.

"Music is a powerful force that brings people together, fosters creativity, and strengthens communities. By supporting Music in Our Schools Month, we affirm the vital role that music education plays in shaping an innovative and empathetic society," said Adam Perle, President & CEO of ArtPride New Jersey Foundation.

"Music, like the humanities, helps us explore and share the stories that embody the human experience. It connects us across time and culture, fostering understanding, creativity, and community. The New Jersey Council for the Humanities is proud to support Music in Our Schools Month because every student deserves the opportunity to engage with this essential part of our shared heritage," said Carin Berkowitz, Ph.D., Executive Director, New Jersey Council for the Humanities.

"On behalf of the members of the New Jersey Music Educators Association, I’d like to thank Senator Booker for sponsoring this important resolution in recognition of the 40th anniversary of Music in Our Schools Month. This year’s theme, United Through Music, reminds us that despite our differences, music has the power to challenge perspectives, inspire action, and bridge divides. For four decades, this initiative has highlighted the critical role of high-quality music education in shaping well-rounded, career-ready students. As a core academic subject, music education fosters essential skills such as collaboration, teamwork, and critical thinking. Beyond performances, it nurtures creativity, self-discipline, and resilience while supporting students' social-emotional well-being. We urge communities to recognize and celebrate music education as a vital part of every student’s learning experience,” said David Westawski, President, New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA).

"At Newark School of the Arts, we believe music education fosters creativity, discipline, and emotional expression. Our inclusive program develops technical proficiency while instilling an appreciation for the cultural and historical significance of music, encouraging collaboration and innovation. We support Senator Booker’s Resolution for March 2025 as Music in Our Schools Month and urge others to join us,” said Sharon Salvador, Interim Executive Director, Newark School of the Arts.

“As a proud product of a public school music program, I know firsthand the transformative power of music education. At Wharton Arts, we see every day how music fosters creativity, confidence, and community. Senator Booker’s ‘Music in Our Schools’ bill ensures that all students, regardless of background, have access to these life-changing opportunities. We strongly support this initiative and applaud his commitment to music education,” said Helen H. Cha-Pyo, Artistic Director, Wharton Arts.

"Art Educators of NJ (AENJ), proudly stands in support of our colleagues across all artistic disciplines, including the resolution of Music in Our Schools Month. We recognize the invaluable role that music plays in the development of our youth and we are thrilled to celebrate the creative journey of New Jersey's young artists. Together, we champion the importance of the arts in education and the endless possibilities it brings to our future creators," said Tamika Diaz, President, Art Educators of New Jersey.

“Arts Ed NJ proudly supports the Senate resolution designating March 2025 as Music in Our Schools Month. As a national leader in arts education access, New Jersey understands that music and the arts are essential to student wellbeing, engagement, and academic success. Every day, we see how the arts provide a vital space for students to express themselves, build resilience, and develop the critical skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex world. A comprehensive arts education is not a luxury—it is a cornerstone of creativity, critical thinking, and innovation, ensuring a vibrant and thriving future for our communities and our nation," said Wendy Liscow, Executive Director, Arts Ed NJ.

“As President & CEO of New Jersey Symphony, I express my support for the designation of March 2025 as Music in Our Schools Month. As both a patron of the arts and President & CEO of an arts organization, I believe that this resolution is vital to the Garden State and is in line with our mission of bringing the arts and music education to all residents in New Jersey. I am proud to be a part of such a dynamic organization that has been a key contributor to the arts in the state. I am especially proud of our Youth Orchestra, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary season, as well as our other education and community programs in Newark, N.J., and throughout the state. We will continue this expansion of music education into Jersey City, N.J., and serve even more youth with the opening of a new Symphony Center arts venue and education complex. New Jersey is the place to be for music, and this Music in Our Schools Month resolution is a vital step to ensuring future generations receive an opportunity to develop musical talent and a love for the artform,” Terry D. Loftis, President & CEO, NJ Symphony.

"Since 1997, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center has offered music education programs in Greater Newark schools, from assemblies on jazz history to programs that teach middle-schoolers to write musicals," says John Schreiber, NJPAC's President and CEO. "Our arts education programs touch more than 50,000 students every season through performances, masterclasses, in-classroom residencies and instruction in jazz, hip hop, acting and musical theater. We know the latest science shows us that the arts are profoundly beneficial to our physical and mental well-being, at every age. And we see every day how engagement with the arts is life-enhancing for our students -- and how sometimes it can transform a young person's future," said John Schreiber, President and CEO, New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).

“On behalf of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, I am honored to support this Resolution for Music in Our Schools Month. Music is a means to speak across cultures and generations - a communication tool that often transcends spoken language, uniting us where other means fail. Students in schools with strong music programs often see improved academic performance, enhanced social interaction, and higher motivation,” said Karen Bingert, Executive Director of NJPSA. “As every principal in New Jersey can attest, music education and programming can provide students with a powerful outlet for self-expression, allow them to explore emotions and creativity in ways that words sometimes cannot, develop essential life skills, improve communication, and collaborate with others toward a common goal. We thank Senator Booker for his leadership in introducing this  important Resolution, and we urge all Senators to demonstrate their commitment to the value of arts in education by supporting this pertinent measure.”

The Music In Our Schools Month Resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA).

To read the full text of the resolution, click here.