Proposition 28 is in its second year of implementation- and school districts STILL need arts teachers
What school districts can do
There are multiple avenues for hiring arts teachers. Schools can hire existing credentialed staff, CTE credential holders, teaching credential candidates, and teaching artists.
Contact teacher education programs in your area to let them know about your hiring needs. In some cases, a university may be going slow starting dance and/or theatre credential programs because they are uncertain about enrollment numbers but if you let them know about your needs, they may speed things up. Begin offering partnerships, offer to host student teachers or hire candidates under Intern Credentials. Work with The Residency Lab and a higher education partner to build a residency program.
Let the California Department of Education know about your hiring needs. If there are enough openings in the arts, it could be declared a “high needs area,” opening it up for additional support.
If you have partnerships with non-profit Arts Education organizations, talk to them. They have been and will remain an important part of the educational landscape and they may be a source of teachers for you. Under Proposition 28, 80% of the funding must go to pay credentialed and certificated staff. LEAs with total enrollments of less than 500 are exempt from this, although the money must still be used for arts education. If an LEA with more than 500 enrolled cannot find enough qualified teachers they may obtain a waiver for the 80% requirement and Arts Education organizations could provide instruction as a stopgap measure .
1. Tap into the existing pool of teachers
All PE teachers credentialed prior to January, 2021 have Dance credentials automatically as part of their PE authorization. The same is true for English teachers and theatre. (Note that the January 2021 deadline is somewhat flexible, it also depends upon the enrollment status in a credential program. As the state agency that has ultimate authority over teacher credentialing, The Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) determines eligibility on a case-by-case basis.) Please note that this is NOT stated anywhere on the credential nor is it prominently listed anywhere on the CTC website. District credentials analysts may need to be educated about this. For reference, see the March 8, 2021 Coded Correspondence from the CTC addressing this topic.
Multiple subject credential holders will have received some training in the arts during their credential program, but the depth of that training varies greatly from program to program. They are authorized to teach the arts within their self-contained classroom, but not in stand-alone arts classes. Teachers with significant experience can be encouraged to add a credential or a supplemental authorization.
Multiple or single subject credentialed teachers can add a single subject credential by demonstrating Subject Matter Competency and by taking a one semester methods course in an approved teacher education program. Subject matter competency is accomplished by a) obtaining a degree in dance, music, theatre or visual arts, b) taking the CSET exams, or c) a combination of college course work and one CSET.
For single subject credential holders, a lesser known but equally viable route is to add a Specific Supplementary Authorization. This is comparable to a Single Subject Credential in the arts disciplines. A Specific Supplementary Authorization is not limited by grade or curriculum, only by subject. (Most Supplementary Authorizations, such as an Introductory Supplementary, are limited by grade.) To add a Specific Supplementary, you must have 20 semester units or 10 upper division semester units (or the quarter equivalent) in the content area listed. For example, a dance authorization must have classes from the Dance Department. Only units from institutions of higher education are allowed. The advantage of a Supplementary is that no classes or exams are needed, and the application is made directly to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Read more on the Supplementary and Subject Matter Authorizations web page and in the Supplementary Authorization Guideline Book.
Multiple subject credential holders can add a Supplementary Authorization which allows them to teach a specific arts content area in grade 9 and below. University/college coursework is required: 20 semester units to upper division semester units (or their quarter equivalent) in their arts content area. Be sure to check the CTC website as there are some limitations on the subjects that can be taught. With a Supplemental Authorization no additional classes or exams are needed. For more information see CTC’s Supplementary Authorizations web page.
2. Find New Teachers
EdJoin – When posting jobs on EdJoin write your announcements so that PE and English holders are eligible to apply. Remember, most experienced dance and theatre teachers hold these credentials.
Advertise for CTE credential holders in Arts, Media, and Entertainment.
Advertise out of state – Reciprocity agreements vary from state to state. Check CTC’s Out-of-State General Education Applicants page for more information.
Intern Teachers – Hire candidates in credential programs under Intern Credentials.
Network and Recruit – contact credential programs, visit university classes.
Seek out the Professional organizations (California Art Education Association, California Dance Education Association, California Music Educators Association, California Educational Theatre Association) and advertise on their websites.
3. Think Outside The Box
While credential programs increase capacity think long term, look at teaching artists (perhaps from arts organizations that are already district partners), aides, and other staff and hire them under a Short Term Staff Permit (STP) or a Provisional Intern Permit (PIP). This allows you hire arts teachers now, keep them employed for several years, and eventually enroll them in credential programs, when they can work under Intern Credentials
Hire arts teachers as classified staff. This is especially valid for teaching artists. Some districts have a specific designation for this, such as “VAPA Consultants.” They are district employees who travel from class to class and teach while the credentialled teacher remains in the classroom.
This content is update to the 2023 version of Thanks to Proposition 28 School Districts Need Art Teachers (PDF). Author Dr. Eric 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.
