|
Home > No Child Left Behind > arts education in your community
Find out the arts education situation in your own community
Many factors, including the schedule of the school day, the availability of arts teachers and community demand shape a local arts education climate. Knowing which factors influence arts education in your area's public schools will improve your advocacy efforts.
Here are two examples of advocacy efforts and partnerships that garnered substantial support for arts education:
- In California's Alameda County, the backdrop for local/district advocacy is that state government support is at an all-time high. The recent historic $105-million-dollar allocation of ongoing funding has ensured arts education for all public school students in the state. The community of Alameda actively pursued this allocation through an advocacy campaign that included an online petition of 1,200 signatures that was brought to the attention of Gov. Schwarzenegger.
- Cleveland is a city known for its thriving arts and culture scene. The support of local arts organizations, as well leadership in the Cleveland Municipal School District have led to a budding arts integration program that combines literacy and the arts in third grade classrooms.
Where does your community stand on arts education? Here are some questions to ask:
- Is arts education available to all children?
- Are enough teachers and materials available?
- Is there time in the school day dedicated to the arts?
- Are the arts integrated into lessons with other subjects?
- Which arts and cultural organizations and events are in my community?
- Does my local or state government support arts education programs?
To get the conversation started in your community, read our talking points. For more resources on this topic, click here.
#2 Speak out at your local school board meeting
Click here to return to the 5 Things You Can Do
To view an expanded list of resources, click here.
|
