Action Center
URGENT: Speak Out to Keep Arts in Schools
In response to the new state budget, approved February 19, 2009, public hearings are taking place at school board meetings across the state right now to determine the future of arts education in our schools. Local advocates must take immediate action at the district level.
- Contact your district and find out when school board meetings to discuss the education budget are taking place. These meetings are happening very quickly, so call today.
- Identify your opportunity: Ask at what point will arts education funding be discussed? Your comments may be taken up during the general public comment portion of the meeting, or there may be a special section of the meeting devoted to this topic.
- Discern fact from rumor: Before preparing your presentation, contact your school board to ask what cuts to visual and performing arts budgets are currently being considered.
- Prepare your presentation. Our Advocacy Tips and Resources Toolkit provides everything you need to prepare a short, effective presentation about the value of arts education.
- Submit a letter to the editor in your local paper and reach out to any bloggers in your community who cover education issues. Click here for a sample editorial [Word .doc, 30K]
State budget background: The new state budget approved February 19, 2009, revises the regulations that governed categorical funding for K-12 visual and performing arts education. The changes include:
- A 15% reduction to the block grant in 2008-09 and an additional 4.9% reduction in 2009-10.
- Complete flexibility for the district to use these funds as the district deems necessary, provided the district hold a public hearing as a condition for transferring funds from categorical items.
- District flexibility includes access to all restricted fund balances as of June 30, 2008 except those programs specifically excluded in the bill. (Exclusions don't include arts and music funding).
TALKING POINTS Regarding ARTS AND MUSIC BLOCK GRANT
ACCESS – The Arts and Music Block Grant is intended to rebuild the infrastructure of arts education in school districts so that every child may benefit from arts education.
EQUITY – Students attending high poverty schools have significantly less access to arts education than their peers in more affluent communities. The Arts and Music Block Grant is an initial investment and is only just beginning to redress the great inequities that have occurred over the past thirty years. The block grant funds are allocated on a per pupil basis, enabling arts learning opportunities at all schools for all students.
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY – The arts are central to a complete education. Our students need and deserve the kind of education that will enable them to be competitive for the jobs of the 21st century. The arts cultivate those critical skills that foster innovation and creativity.
QUALITY – Districts are making progress reviving quality arts programs by hiring visual and performing arts teachers and administrators, purchasing instructional materials, and providing much needed professional development. Progress will only be sustained with time and an unwavering commitment by policymakers and education leaders to provide a complete and well-rounded education for every child, which includes access to a quality education in the arts.