Soliciting Letter To Senator

Below is a letter to our Pennsylvania senator regarding MENC's request for $100,000 for recruiting and retaining music teachers in America. If any of you are interested in using it, I'm sure it could be adapted for use in your state.

September 8, 2004

The Honorable Arlen Specter

711 Senate Hart Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Fax: 202-228-1229

CC Fax: 703-860-9404

Dear Senator Specter:

I would first like to express my thanks and gratitude for your strong support of last year's $50,000 appropriation for MENC: The National Association for Music Education. As an active constituent of yours and as someone very concerned about the future of music education in America, I am writing to ask your help again this year. MENC has asked for a $100,000 appropriation request for support of music education professionals who serve the needs of America's schoolchildren. I ask that you be aware of and again strongly support this request on behalf of the music teachers and students of our state.

This $100,000 "Music for All" appropriations request focuses on the recruitment and retention of music teachers through mentoring, research, and professional development.

Music teachers contribute to the lives and educational well being of children in Pennsylvania every day. Unfortunately, each year half as many music teachers graduate from colleges than are needed, with almost half of those teachers leaving the profession within their first years of teaching. Because of this, many of our nation's 54 million school children are being denied an adequate, if any, music education, including those whom you represent. This "Music for All" appropriation would help connect music teachers with one another and provide critical professional development that will help music teacher retention.

As a constituent of yours, I have noted your strong commitment to the future of America's schools and our children. I thank you for your support - as do music teachers and students across Pennsylvania - and hope you will do everything you can to support MENC's "Music for All" appropriation request.

Sincerely,