Congress recently passed the No Child Left Behind Act, which includes key provisions long sought by arts education advocates and marks a major victory for arts learning. Experts say this is the biggest overhaul of education law since passage of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

After being deliberated for four years, the bipartisan bill determines how the U.S. Department of Education will support schools, students and communities.

The new act includes a general definition of "core academic subjects," which includes the arts. The arts were given equal billing with reading, math, science and other disciplines, meaning whenever national education programs

(such as teacher training, school reform and technology programs) are targeted to "core academic subjects," the arts may be eligible to receive federal funds. Such a broad recognition of the arts has never before been included in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

The national arts service organizations are working together to produce a document with more information about the bill and with specific examples of how artists, schools, parents, teachers, community organizations and policymakers can take steps to increase local support for arts education. For more information e-mail VH1 Save the Music at vh1stm@vh1.com.