March is Arts Education Month

Traditionally March has been celebrated as Youth Art Month with displays of art work hanging in all sorts of public venues across the country. CA Assembly Member Davis (D-Los Angeles) introduced a bill declaring March 2009 as Arts Education Month. Assembly Member Davis is the chair of the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee. We'll take all the support and publicity we can get -- including $$.

Even with this public show of support, Laurie Schell, California Alliance for Arts Education Executive Director, cautions that the future of arts education in California is at a critical juncture right now. Although a new state budget was finally, belatedly passed on February 19th that included art money for schools, there are changes that concern educators and activists regarding the visual and performing arts instruction in our public schools.

The good news -- which we haven't heard much of lately -- is that the Arts and Music Block Grant remained in the budget, and will so for the next four years. The bad news is that these funds have been cut 15% this year, to be followed by another 5% next year. Well, it could have been far worse in my view -- 50% cuts, or funding left out altogether.

The bigger concern is that new regulations have been included which give the districts complete flexibility as to how they'll spending state funds. Given the dire circumstances they're facing, it's not out of the realm of possibility that school districts will choose to spend that money on something other than arts education.

So, arts advocates have been busy around the state -- showing up at school board meetings to protest cuts. It's caused some districts to reverse their proposed course of actions. If you'd like to help swell the grassroots movement, head to: http://www.artsed411.org/advocate/tips.aspx It's only with a lot of support from ordinary citizens that we're going to find the solutions to turn this thing around! Ultimately, that's good for the state and all kids.