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In This Issue
- Budget Update
- Vibrant Creative Arts Program Envisioned for Schools
- California Teachers Prepare a Tax-Hike Initiative
- San Fernando Valley Home to Arts In Education Aid Council
- Los Angeles Unified Suspends Key Arts Program
- The Contours of Inclusion: Frameworks and Tools for Evaluating Arts in Education
- MusicianCorps Concept Proposed
- Arts Groups Offer Deals for Furloughed State Employees
- More Schools Getting In Tune With Mariachi
- Principals’ Magazine on Arts Education
- Parent Advocacy Toolkit From NAEA
CONFERENCES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Workshops from the California Institute for Dance Learning
- State Leadership Conference: Save the Date
- Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts in Education
- Open Registration for Harvard University's Project Zero Summer Institute
RESOURCES, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
- San Jose Champions of Arts Education Awards 2009
- Proposal Writing for Arts Organizations
January 14, 2009
ArtsEdMail provides all the latest information to connect the Arts Education community in California. Our free e-newsletter is published every two weeks.
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Become an advocate or make a donation today!
Budget
Update
The current budget negotiations are complex, with the Arts
Block Grant funding representing a very small portion of what is at
stake for education funding overall. In the interest of giving you
a full accounting of the various proposals, we wish to inform you as
to what proposals are on the table, what we anticipate may happen next,
to distinguish between conjecture or rumor and what actions have actually
taken place, the impact all this may have on arts education in our
schools, and what you can do about it.
As of today, there is no indication when the Governor and the legislature will agree upon a budget that meets the unprecedented deficit that our state is facing. With regard to the issue of arts education, here’s what we know:
WHAT’S ON THE TABLE
In his proposal to reduce 2008-09 Proposition 98 spending on K-14 programs, the Governor proposes legislation that provides “schools complete and permanent flexibility with respect to categorical funding.” The Governor’s proposal would authorize the transfer of funding for categorical programs, including the Arts and Music Block Grant to a district’s or county office of education’s general fund. (In all likelihood these changes would extend into the 2009-10 budget year, though that decision will be made later this year.)
The Democratic leadership of the legislature’s budget proposal for mid-year education funding differs from the Governor's approach of providing the flexible use of categorical programs funding. It would eliminate certain categorical programs, including the Arts and Music Block Grant, and protect direct instructional services and programs that support most at-risk students.
Whichever way the budget negotiation goes, the outlook for the Arts and Music Block Grant does not seem promising at this moment; however, no one can anticipate where the final decisions might lead, and we will remain steadfast advocates for as long as necessary.
WHAT’S REAL AND WHAT’S NOT
Anticipating major cuts in education funding, many school districts are freezing funds for programs including arts education. We have also heard stories of some school districts allotting designated funds for arts education to other programs, based on the assumption that a decision has already been made or that categorical flexibility is on its way. That would NOT be a legal use of those funds, since no decisions have been made with regard to current state funding.
WHAT LIES AHEAD
Whichever path our state takes to remedy its economic woes, it is increasingly clear that there is momentum gathering around the concept that each school district should determine its own educational priorities, based on the funding that it receives. What this means to you as an advocate is that, more than ever, we need to raise our voices locally, with principals, superintendents, and school board members, to let them know the importance of arts education as part of the core curriculum that every child needs and deserves.
As an organization, we will continue to fight for ongoing state funding and beneficial policies for arts education. Although we recognize the uphill battle we face in such dire economic conditions, we remain committed to providing arts education as part of the education that every student receives.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Your advocacy efforts are best directed at this time at the local level. While we await the decision on the state budget, there are actions you can take locally, where critical decisions will soon be made about the delivery of arts education in your school district. Click to access a letter template directed to local school district leaders and for talking points and to learn how to be strategic in your arts education advocacy efforts at this critical time.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
While the process around the budget remains unresolved, the Department of Education continues to monitor the Arts and Music Block Grant. To the extent that your school district has not yet frozen those funds, you are encouraged to spend them now for their designated purpose, particularly if your district has made thoughtful strategic decisions about how to utilize the funding. The department recently posted both the FAQ and the Summary Report Template on the CDE website. You can find the 2008-2009 FAQs and Summary Report Template, including narrative, by clicking here. In addition, the Superintendent's Letter explaining the first apportionment of the Arts and Music Block Grant and the district apportionment listing can be found here.
KEEP CHECKING IN
As long as the uncertainty continues around the budget continues, we will provide updates on our website as events merit. If you have questions or concerns, please let us know and we will do our best to respond quickly. Joe Landon, Policy Director: joe@artsed411.org or Laurie Schell, Executive Director laurie@artsed411.org.
Vibrant
creative arts program envisioned for schools
In Newman, CA, a blueprint to incorporate a coordinated visual
and performing arts element into the curriculum at all grade levels
– while providing the teacher training and facilities needed to support
an ambitious creative arts program over the long haul - was presented
to the school board. Click
here.
California
Teachers Prepare a Tax-Hike Initiative
The California Teachers Association has put together an initiative that
would raise the state sales tax by a penny and dedicate all of the resulting
revenue to education. But whether the group pulls the trigger on gathering
signatures to qualify the measure for a special election ballot later this
year will depend on what happens in the next few weeks in budget negotiations
between legislators and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Click
here.
San
Fernando Valley Home to Arts In Education Aid Council
After fundraising and volunteering to bring art supplies and teachers
to her son's school, Spike Dolomite Ward decided to launch the Arts in
Education Aid Council, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring music, painting
and culture to San Fernando Valley classrooms. At a time when funding
for arts programs in Los Angeles Unified School District schools is being
slashed or frozen, Ward feels her program is needed more than ever. Click
here.
Los
Angeles Unified Suspends Key Arts Program
The Los Angeles Unified school district has suspended a key arts program
because of a spending freeze on contracted services, a sign of what may
be ahead for the state's largest district, which is facing a serious
budget shortfall. The Los Angeles arts partnership has been in place
for six years and had a budget of about $8 million this year. The 80
participating groups include the Music Center and the Center Theatre
Group. Click
here.
The
Contours of Inclusion: Frameworks and Tools for Evaluating Arts in
Education
In her article "Freedom Machines," Dennie Wolf outlines a bold
approach to evaluation of arts and cultural learning programs. The article
is part of "Contours of Inclusion," published by VSA at the Kennedy
Center. Wolf's piece is accompanied by a case study of a joint project
between the Studio Museum of Harlem and Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom School,
a small high school in the South Bronx. Click
here.
MusicianCorps
Concept Proposed
Barack Obama has said he believes the arts are good for people. During
his campaign, one of his ideas was to create an Artist Corps — a kind
of Peace Corps for artists who would work in low- income schools and
communities. But what would this actually look like? There's already
a model being developed for musicians called MusicianCorps: In exchange
for a year or two of service teaching in schools and after-school programs,
musicians would get health care and a living stipend. Click
here.
Arts
Groups Offer Deals for Furloughed State Employees
Maryland Citizens for the Arts, an advocacy group that has been active
for more than 25 years, announced that several organizations have joined
an effort to support the 67,000 state employees who are facing furloughs
as part of a budget-balancing move. The employees will be able to obtain
various deals, including free or discounted tickets, from the Baltimore
Symphony Orchestra, CenterStage, Baltimore Museum of Art, Walters Art
Museum and others. Click
here.
More
Schools Getting In Tune With Mariachi
With soaring dropout rates among Hispanic students, mariachi education
programs, long popular in parts of South Texas and California, are springing
up in schools across the country to help keep the nation's largest and
fastest-growing ethnic group academically engaged.
Click
here.
Principals’
Magazine on Arts Education
The quarterly publication of the National Association of Elementary School
Principals features arts education. Articles include: --Using Interdisciplinary
Arts Education to Enhance Learning by Maureen Reilly Lorimer --Arts Education
and the Whole Child by Hal Nelson --A School Revitalized Through the Arts
by Roma Morris --Masterpieces in the Hallway by Philip Downs and Erin Patton-McFarren. Click
here.
Parent
Advocacy Toolkit From NAEA
Funding and motivation for developing strategic plans often times starts
with PTAs, PTOs or Education Foundations, therefore supporting advocacy
efforts at this level can be an excellent first step towards strategic
planning. Published originally in 2003, this advocacy guide is comprehensive,
yet accessible. It provides an excellent checklist for parents to use in
evaluating their schools arts programs. It provides intelligent, articulate
reasons for why the arts are important, practical skills such as writing
letters to the board, combined with essential facts in a “Did You Know…”
format, making this guide readable and useful. Click
here.
Conferences, Professional Development
Workshops
from the California Institute for Dance Learning
Entry-Level Workshops from Luna Kids Dance include “Create, Perform, Respond...Promoting
Creativity Through Dance” on January 24,2009 and “Dance in Early Childhood”,
both on January 24 in Berkeley, CA. For more information contact: Alisa
Rasera at (510)644-3629 or arasera@lunakidsdance.org
or check the web site http://www.lunakidsdance.org/.
State
Leadership Conference: Save the Date
On April 20-21, 2009, the California County Superintendents Educational
Services Association (CCSESA) and California Alliance for Arts Education
will co-sponsor the annual State Leadership Conference in Sacramento. Arts
to the Core: Building a Future for Arts Education in California will feature
important work being done at the state, regional, county and local levels
to improve the quality of arts education, and to encourage participation
and leadership as we shape the future of arts education in California. We
are delighted to announce that our keynote speaker will be playwright and
director Luis Valdez, who is considered by many to be the “father of Mexican
American theater.” Look for more conference information in the coming weeks
at both the CCSESA (http://www.ccsesaarts.org/content/home.asp)
and California Alliance (http://artsed411.org/)
websites.
Lincoln
Center Institute for the Arts in Education
Professional artists and educators offer high-quality instruction to support
stellar performances as part of the Institute’s rigorous approach, known
as aesthetic education. Any pre-K through grade 12 teacher, school and/or
arts administrator, teaching artist, curriculum developer, or teacher educator
not currently affiliated with an aesthetic education program may attend.
The Lincoln Center Institute National Educator Workshops for educators
are now offered at six locations worldwide. For more information, please
visit www.lcinstitute.org. Also,
Lincoln Center Institute and CaseNEX announce the development of four online
courses dedicated to imagination, inquiry, and arts and education. Click
here for more information and
to register for the courses. Please contact Teresa Froelich, Registrar
and Database Associate at tfroelich@lincolncenter.org if
you have any questions.
Open
Registration for Harvard University's Project Zero Summer Institute
Project Zero Classroom is designed to help practicing Pre K-12 educators
create classrooms, instructional materials, and out-of-school learning
environments that address the challenges presented by our rapidly changing
world. Offered July 27 - August 1, 2009
Future of Learning
is designed
to help educators understand how changes in society affect learning today
and in the future. It invites educators to examine what, where, and how
children and adults should learn in order to thrive in the twenty-first
century. Offered August 4 - 7, 2009
To register for the Project Zero Classroom
and its partner program, Future of Learning, click
here.
Resources,
Funding Opportunities
San
Jose Champions of Arts Education Awards 2009
The San Jose Mayor’s Office, the Office of Cultural Affairs, and the Arts
Commission seek nominations honoring exemplary visual and performing arts
education leaders and K-12 public schools in San Jose. Participate in celebrating
the value that the arts bring to the learning and lives of students. Nominate
an inspiring educator, administrator, or school, and share this announcement
throughout your education community. Nomination Deadline: March 9, 2009.
Nomination guidelines available online January 16th. Click
here.
Proposal
Writing for Arts Organizations
Learn valuable proposal writing skills and hear insider tips on how to
apply to the James Irvine Foundation's Creative Connections Fund at this
two-part program offered at several sites in California. Thanks to sponsorship
from the James Irvine Foundation, this program is offered FREE OF CHARGE,
and all attendees will receive a free copy of Grantseeker's Guide to Winning
Proposals and The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing. Click
here.
Pacific Northwest College of Art Seeks Chair for MFA in
Visual Studies Program. For more information, click
here.
La Jolla Playhouse is seeking applications from theatre teaching artists for workshops, residencies, classroom instruction, and other audience engagement activities. For more information click here or contact Jennifer Stoessner at jstoessner@ljp.org.
The Crocker Art Museum has two full-time positions--Manager, Life-Long Learning and Manager, School Programs & Teacher Services For full job descriptions, please visit www.crockerartmuseum.org.
ArtsEdMail provides all the latest information to connect the Arts Education community in California. Our free e-newsletter is published every two weeks.
We rely on you to support our efforts.
Become an advocate or make a donation today!
Redistribution of this e-mail news bulletin is encouraged.
Copyright. California Alliance for Arts Education.