executive director, President of educational theatre association Comment On Recent Executive Orders1/29/2025 Originally published as a letter to EdTA members
Dedicated Theatre Educators, We want to address the recent conversations regarding the political climate and its potential impact on our educational community. Many of you have been navigating these concerns for some time, while others may be facing them for the first time. Either way, it has been a trying time for educators as we work together to navigate the ever-changing landscape and continue to put the education, safety, and well-being of our students first. We'd like to provide some clarity on what EdTA is doing and share what information we have at this moment. Funding and DEI Last week, the President issued Executive Orders targeting organizations with budgets over $500 million to eliminate all DEI-related work. Some members have asked what this means for EdTA. The short answer is: nothing. We are not federally funded, nor do we receive funding from the organizations affected by these orders. Additionally, we are also reviewing all of our materials and where necessary, adjusting language to ensure that our work can continue to remain impactful to the broadest range of schools and educators possible. We are part of a federally funded grant, the Connected Arts Networks (CAN), that runs until October 2026. Yesterday, The White House issued a statement pausing thousands of federal grants and we are closely monitoring whether this will impact CAN. We will share that information as we have it. Protecting Students The President has also issued orders that affect the safety of LGBTQ+ and undocumented students. Many of you have asked about EdTA’s position, and our response remains unchanged: The Educational Theatre Association, the International Thespian Society, and the Educational Theatre Foundation are firmly committed to the work we do every day to support educators and provide all students access to theatre as part of their education. Here's what you can always expect from us: We will support teachers, schools, and communities in building inclusive, brave spaces where students can find joy, make human connections, and develop empathy and understanding. Students must be allowed to explore their own humanity with compassion and acceptance. Thank you for your continued support of this important mission, more crucial now than ever before. Department of Education Following the election, there was discussion about eliminating the Department of Education and its potential impact on Title 1 funding. We are working closely with the Arts Education Alliance to monitor this and remain prepared to advocate as needed. We encourage everyone to stay informed on federal funding sources and to join us in advocating for arts funding, especially at Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill this July. We know many of you, like us, are closely monitoring the situation. However, none of these recent developments are new to the work we’ve been doing for years. We will continue to support our teachers and students in navigating these challenges. EdTA staff will stay on top of developments as they unfold and keep you informed so you can focus your energy on creating theatre and supporting your students. We will post updates and answer future questions within the Advocacy Community on the Callboard, EdTA's online community for theatre educators. We encourage you to join that space. If you have any questions or need clarification, please feel free to reach out. We're happy to discuss further. And if anyone asks what EdTA is doing, please refer them to either of us or use the points shared here. Thank you for your continued dedication to our shared mission. Sincerely, Dr. Jennifer Katona Executive Director Educational Theatre Association Krista Carson Elhai President Educational Theatre Association
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