The Orange County Community Foundation gave out the second round of grants to ten OC school districts who had completed a district plan for arts education and also had an active Alliance for Arts Education in their community. These grants are matched by the school district and must move some aspect of their bigger plan forward such as professional development for teachers and purchase of musical instruments. The Boeing Company and Arts Orange County have been instrumental in launching the Orange County Arts Education Collaborative Fund.

Huntington Beach School District received $8,000 to provide a stipend to Lead Arts teachers at nine schools to implement the “Arts Advantage” Curriculum offered by OCDE. Newport-Mesa Unified received $10,000 to purchase SmartMusic software in their elementary music program. Santa Ana Unified received $10,000 directed towards creating professional learning communities in all four arts disciplines.

All ten districts have a local advocacy group supported by the California Alliance for Arts Education, which provides professional development, strategic assistance and communications tools through the Local Advocacy Network. Now in more than thirty communities, program is helping local advocates make meaningful gains in local schools. We thank and congratulate the local alliances in these districts: