It is an exciting time in the field of arts education. After years of budget cuts and a narrow focus on test results, California public schools are undergoing an unprecedented process of re-evaluation and re-investment. On a national level, resources available through Title I and Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) are being used to fund the arts throughout the country. In California, funding increases to the state education budget coupled with the use of arts education to achieve the goals of Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) have opened up new pathways to returning arts programs to schools. At the same time, the Arts Education Data Project has revealed a widespread lack of access to arts in public schools and highlights the inequity of access by demonstrating that, simply put, the greater the percentage of students on free and reduced lunch, the lower the arts participation rate. In response to these factors, school leaders in California are investing in arts education in innovative ways to improve schoolwide outcomes.

The Arts Now Campaign was designed to broadcast this exciting progress and share new opportunities and practices with school leaders around the state. Local storytellers, Alliance expertise and regional outreach are the hallmarks of this new campaign. This year, the Alliance is hosting a series of events that spotlights districts and counties that are successfully returning robust arts programs to their students’ education. Look out for an event in your community and contact us if you are interested in getting involved.

Joe Landon
Executive Director