BILL REQ. #:  H-0730.1 

Read first time 01/21/13.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to supporting music education for young children in public schools; adding a new section to chapter 28A.630 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that:
     (a) Scientific brain research indicates that music lessons help children improve their language skills. Music can fundamentally shape brains in ways that may enhance everyday tasks, including reading and listening;
     (b) Perhaps equally important, especially for young children, is that music education provides opportunities for students to engage in social interaction, play, creativity, and imagination; and
     (c) Unfortunately, an increased emphasis on academic learning, combined with budget constraints, has led schools to reduce or eliminate music education for young children, especially in high-poverty schools with limited resources.
     (2) Therefore the legislature intends to take advantage of innovative new curriculum in music education for young children and provide support for its use in state-funded all-day kindergarten classes.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.630 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Subject to funds appropriated specifically for this purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall allocate grants for a music does matter program to support music education for young children, with funding provided to schools with state-funded all-day kindergarten programs under RCW 28A.150.315. If funds are not sufficient to cover all kindergarten classes in schools with state-funded all-day kindergarten, the office of the superintendent of public instruction must allocate the funds first to schools with the highest percentages of students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunch.
     (2) The music does matter grants must be used to purchase a standards-based music curriculum designed for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade classrooms that may be taught by regular classroom teachers without special music training. Grant recipients must implement the curriculum in state-funded all-day kindergarten classes.