Arts education unlocks creative skills that last a lifetime.

Creativity at the Core

Teaching & Learning Resources

Strengthening and Expanding Arts Education in California Public Schools

The California County Superintendents believe that all California students from every geographic region and at every socioeconomic level deserve in-depth arts learning as part of the core curriculum. The Statewide Arts Initiative works at all levels to strengthen and expand arts education in California Public Schools and increase student access to sequential, standards-based arts education through a full complement of services utilizing the statewide county office of education infrastructure. One of its key purposes is to build educator capacity to implement California Arts Standards and the Arts Education Curriculum Framework.

Trauma Informed Art Strategies to Support Social Emotional Learning

Stanislaus County Office of Education’s Amy Bultena, Director of the Arts and Region 6 Arts Lead, recently published an article in the Spring Edition of The Journal of the Juvenile Court, Community, and Alternative School Administrators of California. Amy’s article begins on page 16, and emphasizes trauma as an important factor to recognize when providing social emotional support and learning in students.

NEW Resource on credentialing!

Thanks To Prop 28 School Districts Need Arts Teachers

The California County Superintendents Statewide Arts Initiative is pleased to present our latest publication Thanks to Proposition 28 School Districts Need Arts Teachers. The article is authored by Eric Engdahl, of California State University East Bay. Dr. Engdahl, has served the field of arts education in many capacities including on the advisory committees that developed the arts education standards and frameworks at the CDE, as part of the expert panels that developed the theatre credential with the CTC, and most recently leading the establishment of California’s first theatre and dance credential program at CSU East Bay.

Featured Programs and Resources

Upcoming Events

Sep
25
Mon
UDL- Building Bridges to Inclusive Learning for All (Virtural)
Sep 25 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

UDL- Building Bridges to Inclusive Learning for All (Virtual)

Join us to explore Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework that empowers educators to proactively design inclusive and flexible learning environments that benefit all learners. Through UDL’s three guidelines of Representation, Engagement, and Action & Expression, you’ll learn how to remove barriers to learning and provide multiple options for students to demonstrate their understanding and reach their full potential. Essential for some and good for all, UDL is a powerful tool to optimize teaching and learning for all students.

Dates: 9/25/23, 1/17/24
Time: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Virtual)
Audience: UPK-12th Grade Teachers and/or Administrators; open to educators statewide
Flyer
September Registration Link
January Registration Link

Sep
26
Tue
ArtsEdSearch- What’s New for California
Sep 26 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

ArtsEdSearch- What’s New for California

About the Series: ArtsEdSearch is the nation’s hub for research on the impact of arts education. Join us to learn about new California-specific tools and resources aligned to state priorities outlined in the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). Participants will also be introduced to additional LCFF-focused resources for arts education and explore ideas on how to leverage the resources and research to increase opportunities for all students at the classroom, district, and county level.

Date: 9/26/23
Time: 4:00 – 5:00 pm

Flyer
Registration Link

Sep
28
Thu
Building Effective Arts Education Programs: A Professional Learning Series
Sep 28 @ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Building Effective Arts Education Programs: A Professional Learning Series
In this interactive webinar series, we will explore Chapter 9: Implementing Effective Arts Education of the California Arts Education Framework and how to leverage arts education funding including Prop 28. Chapter 9 of the Arts Ed Framework has many tangible resources as schools across the state expand VAPA positions and offerings.

This session is offered by Southern California Regions 9 (Imperial, Orange, San Diego counties), 10 (Riverside, San Bernardino counties), and 11 (Los Angeles county) of the California County Superintendents Arts Initiative.

Audience: Open to all California arts leaders and school leaders.

Registration Link
Interactive Flyer

Virtual Webinar Dates & Topics 3:30 – 5:00 P.M.

August 17

Effective and Equitable Arts Education Programs

August 31

Improving Arts Ed Through Strategic Program Evaluation and Planning

September 14

Professional Learning in Support of Effective and Equitable Arts Learning

September 28

Engaging in Leadership and Advocacy for Arts Education


There will be an all-day, in-person culminating event on November 3, 2023 at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA. All participants who register for the virtual series will be automatically registered for the event!

Oct
6
Fri
2023-2024 Arts Education Funding Implementation Community of Practice
Oct 6 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Our Community of Practice is Back by Popular Demand! Registration in now open!

Registration Link

The passage of the Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act (Prop 28) spotlights the importance of planning strategically and creatively to maximize funding streams and fulfill the goal of equitable access to fully-staffed, sequential, standards-based arts education for all students at all grade levels.

Community of Practice (CoP) participants will prepare to support their county or district with funding implementation by:
Developing a deeper understanding of the various funding streams and possible uses
Taking stock of current need in their county or district
Engaging in facilitated conversations with other arts education leaders around problems of practice
Sharing ideas and best practices

CoP Meetings will be virtual and will from be held from 10:00-11:30 AM on the following dates:
August 25
October 6
December 1
February 2
March 1
April 5
May 3

Audience: Participation is free to county and district arts education leaders but advance registration is required. Teams are encouraged but each individual member must register with the name and email that will be used for the Zoom meeting.

If you have any questions contact Charissa Lewis clewis@cacountysupts.org

23-24 COP Registration Flyer

Every kid deserves a quality education that includes the ARTS.

All California students from every culture, geographic region and socioeconomic level deserve quality ARTS learning in dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts as part of the core curriculum.

Our Vision and Core Principles

The California County Superintendents Arts Initiative believes the visual and performing arts are an integral part of a comprehensive curriculum and are essential for learning in the 21st century. All California students from every culture, geographic region and socio-economic level–deserve quality arts learning in dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts as part of the core curriculum.