Ask School Leaders: “Please Share the Prop 28 Plan!”

April is Arts, Culture, and Creativity Month! Take the opportunity to remind school leaders how important the arts are to you and the voters of California. In November 2022, Prop 28, The Arts and Music in Schools — Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act (Prop 28 AMS), passed with over a 65% majority. Students, teachers, parents, and community members want arts education expanded in their schools to ensure all public PK-12 students have access. 

 

To help ensure the successful implementation of Prop 28 AMS, follow these steps:

At the School Site Level 

1. Contact the principal (send an email, leave a message at the office, or stop by at drop-off or pick-up). Ask, “How does our school plan to expand arts education with Prop 28?”
2. Be helpful! Share the School Site Expenditure Plan template included in this Prop 28 AMS Planning toolkit.
   1. Background: Prop 28 requires Principals to develop an expenditure plan for the funds allocated to that school. You can find your school’s allocation in this spreadsheet.
3. Share the plan. Request the principal share the plan with the school community and post it on the school website.
4. Create Visibility. Document your advocacy efforts, share them with your network, and tag us @Create_CA. Also, email us at comms@createca.org so we can celebrate your advocacy!

At the District Level 

1. Contact district leadership. Use Create CA’s Contact Your School Leader tool to find contact information. Ask the superintendent and school board member, “What is the district’s vision for expanding and sustaining arts education offerings?”
2. Ask for Vision and Plan. Ask school board members and the superintendent to release a statement on the intended use of Prop 28 AMS funds, how it will expand arts education in the district, and provide a timeline for when they will make the plan available to the public. 
3. Make it Public. Request the Prop 28 AMS funding topic be agendized at the next school board meeting and time for public comment be provided.

1. Be Helpful! If the district does not have an Arts Education Strategic plan, send these strategic planning resources and suggest a process to create a district-wide plan to expand arts education. Also, share the Prop 28 AMS Planning Toolkit. 
2. Create Visibility. Document your advocacy efforts, share with your network and tag us @Create_CA. Also, email us at comms@createca.org so we can celebrate your advocacy!

 

Also, please read our new resource, “Your Arts Education Rights In California,” which answers frequently asked questions on arts education and what you can do to ensure access in your student’s school.