Speaking today about the need for reauthorization of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act, Education Secretary Arne Duncan stated:

"I believe education cannot and should not be boiled down just to reading and math. I believe the arts and history, foreign languages, financial literacy, physical education, and after school enrichment are as important as advanced math and science classes. Those are essentials, not luxuries."

Arts education advocates have long sought to have the arts central to a complete education. Education leaders in Congress are determined to reauthorize the current federal policy early in 2015 and Americans for the Arts has been conducting outreach to policy makers calling for arts education to be strengthened.