Sample Letter - Executive Director, State Arts Agency

(your address)
(date)

(Executive Director's full name)
Executive Director

Dear (Mr. or Ms.) ______,

I am the parent of a __ grader at (name of school) in (your city). I am concerned that s/he is not getting a strong enough education in the arts. 

Research studies (Champions of Change, 1999) show that students with high levels of involvement in the arts improve their performance at school in many ways, and that the arts are also a means of reaching students not currently being reached, such as those at risk of not learning to their full potential. The arts help narrow the gap between low socioeconomic status (SES) students who are not highly involved in the arts and their higher SES peers. The arts bring families, communities, and schools together through a common sense of pride.

Our state has developed standards for student achievement in arts education, (Check your state's arts education policy first and modify this paragraph and the next accordingly.) but school districts are not required to provide instruction in the arts disciplines.

Please assist school districts in providing a quality education in the arts based on our state's standards. (Modify to your state's situation.)
 
Thank you for all that you do on behalf of our state.

Sincerely,
(sign and print your name)

(Remember, you can also write to thank your state arts agency for supporting arts education through your local arts agency or for taking a strong public stand in support of arts education.)