Sample Letter - Your U.S. Senator

(You can find your state's senators at Americans for the Arts E-Advocacy Center.)

(your address)
(date)

The Honorable (full name)
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Congress(man or woman) ______,

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.

I want to thank you and the U.S. Congress for the strong and supportive language about arts education in the Leave No Child Behind Act of 2001. Arts education is about good education. Please continue to support arts education in your public statements and to use your national position to support arts education through programs and policies at the U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Please assist school districts in providing a quality education in the arts based on challenging standards.

Thank you for all that you do on behalf of the people of our state.

Sincerely,
(sign and print your name)