Last November California voters passed Proposition 28 which adds The Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act to the California Education Code. The Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act provides a means to fulfill the goal of equitable access to fully staffed, sequential, standards-based arts education for all students at all grade levels. There are many challenges to tackle with implementation but with the creative and skilled leaders in the regional and county arts leads network, the California County Superintendents Statewide Arts Initiative is ready to engage in the work. As we prepare to support implementation of Proposition 28, the Arts Initiative is taking the following actions:
- Establishing working groups, including the Arts Education Funding Implementation Community of Practice, to understand the nuances and challenges of implementation in rural, suburban, and urban districts with a wide array of arts education programs.
- Engaging in conversation with diverse arts education partners to determine additional implementation challenges and opportunities, including the teacher shortage problem.
Participating in collaborative work with statewide education interest holders and industry partners on approaches to support implementation. - Even amid ambiguity about actual funds available and rules for spending and reporting, a theme has emerged: LEAs can swim through the ambiguity by taking inventory of their existing arts education programs and how they are funded and identifying opportunities for long term growth. With funds available to spend for up to three years after allocation, this is a good time to slow down and engage in some strategic planning. It is also important to remember that all partners will need to play a role to ensure equitable implementation statewide.
With collaboration of statewide partners, careful planning, and patience, the implementation of this historic legislation and investment in the future of California’s students can yield new generations of creative and artistically literate Californians ready to join us as we design California’s future.
Check out our February Newsletter for more information!
