8/7/2019 ArtsEd_State Policy Issues3[2] Copy
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1/24/11
Arts Education and State Policy Issues
This chart highlights the priorities for K-12 education
established by Governor Brown,along with the Alliances perspective
on each of those priorities.
Topic Issue/Concern Our Position
A More Balanced andCreative School
Curriculum
Budget and testing pressures havemeant that schools are focusing
on
language arts and math at theexpense of other subjects,
including
the arts.
The arts are mandated as core curriculumin existing Education
Code, not optional
electives or enrichment programs. The Statemust provide
appropriate accountability
measures for Districts to support theimplementation of the
California Academic
Content Standards for the Visual andPerforming Arts and the
Visual and
Performing Arts Framework.
Streamlining CategoricalFunding
In the face of budget cuts,pressures to teach to the test, and
a
drive to provide more flexibility toLEAs, districts are unlikely
to
increase student access to artseducation without a dedicated
revenue stream.
Preserve Art and Music Block Grantprogram.
Increasing Local Controlfor School Districts
The trend to provide increased localcontrol and flexibility in
meeting thestates required outcomes has beentransmuted to local
decisions about
which state standards to include,leaving visual and performing
arts
instruction at the discretion of localdecision makers.
For all students to have equitable access,Districts and schools
must be held publicly
accountable for the quality and scope of artseducation provided
to their students. Local
control must be tied to defined state
outcomes for arts education learning.
Improve High SchoolGraduation Rates
High dropout rates indicate studentsare disconnected from
their
education, seeing no relevance totheir lives or experience.
Dropout
rates indicate disproportionateimpact on minority
communities.
The arts are uniquely positioned to engagestudents who might
otherwise drop out.
Quality arts education is an essentialcomponent of an
educational experience forevery student and also strongly linked to
jobs
and Californias creative economy.
High School StudentReadiness for College
and Career
A focus on career and collegereadiness creates opportunities
for
both career tech and artsproponents. A danger persists in
advancing legislation that promotescareer tech at the expense
of
access to arts education.
Arts education is an essential component ofa strong academic
foundation, giving
students the flexibility for whatever path they
choosewhether it is the workforce or acommunity or four-year
college.
Highly QualifiedTeachers
Standards based education shouldbe provided by highly
qualified
teachers. Reduced resources forprofessional development and
pre-service education for arts teachersthreatens the instructional
delivery
system.
Credentialed arts educators and well-prepared classroom teachers
must be
available to provide discrete instruction in thearts and quality
arts integration.
Credentials for theatre and dance educatorsmust be established
to ensure that students
receive high quality education.
