The Alliance advocated for and supports the State budget of $109+ million for arts education. The Alliance will continue to advocate for the inclusion and expansion of this line item in future budgets.

The Alliance is committed to ensuring that the Arts and Music Block Grants are allocated, implemented, and accounted for in a manner that ensures quality, equity, and broad access to arts education for all California K-8 students.

In its 2005 report, Quality, Equity, and Access, the Alliance set forth the following recommendations for public school arts education programs:


QUALIFIED TEACHERS. Every student shall receive instruction from qualified, credentialed teachers who are prepared to teach in each of the curriculum areas as defined by California Education Code 51210 and 51220. Specifically, a single subject credential in dance and theatre must be available in order for schools to fully comply with No Child Left Behind requirements for highly qualified teachers.


UPDATED CURRICULA. Every student shall be taught with updated curricula that include adopted courses of study as defined by California Education Code 51210 and 51220.

IN-SCHOOL INSTRUCTION. Every student shall receive a comprehensive, balanced, sequential and rigorous arts education, taught during the regular school day.

STANDARDS-BASED INSTRUCTION. Every student shall be taught according to California state standards in each of the visual and performing arts disciplines – music, dance, theatre and visual arts – as a basis for their sequential curriculum from pre-K through 12th grade.

STUDENT ASSESSMENT. Every pre K-12 standards-based arts course and program shall include appropriate, formative and summative student assessments, and a statewide arts assessment shall be administered at the 4th and 8th grade levels.

ACCOUNTABILITY. Every school shall post a school accountability report card that indicates the status of student arts participation, arts curriculum policies, and arts assessment in selected grades.

ADEQUATE FUNDING. Every student shall receive arts instruction that is adequately funded at the district and state levels, with provisions for arts administration, curricula, instruction, and materials.