Arts initiative to take shape in county

Santa Barbara County will become part of a statewide effort to help imbed visual and performing arts education in every school, according to County Superintendent Bill Cirone, representing one of 14 counties selected to take part in this statewide Arts Education Initiative.

“I have always been a steadfast supporter of arts education because of the many proven academic benefits that flow to students who take part in such programs,” explained Superintendent Cirone, who was appointed to the state’s Art Task Force several years ago. “Our students deserve a comprehensive and well designed curriculum that includes the visual and performing arts — dance, music, theatre, drawing, painting, ceramics, design, and the like.”

The current initiative is being coordinated by the California County Superintendents Education Services Association (CCSESA) with a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Though there is strong supportive research and broad public support for arts education in the public schools, reduced funding and an emphasis on test scores predominantly in reading and math have led to the exclusion of sufficient art education in many schools.

CCSESA believes now is the right time to work with the education, business, and arts communities and parent organizations to begin a systematic approach that would bring the arts into the classroom at every grade level. By working collaboratively at the local and state levels simultaneously, the group hopes to build a powerful mechanism that will help schools and districts meet the needs of their students in the area of arts education.

Activities at the county level will begin with gathering information on what is currently available in schools and what is needed to provide quality arts education programs for all. These efforts will lead to developing and implementing a countywide arts education plan in collaboration with the education, arts, and business communities.

Other activities will include helping districts plan arts education programs, providing curriculum and professional development for teachers, identifying funding sources, and delineating best practices and model programs for providing standards-based arts education for all students within the current educational program.

At the same time, a statewide infrastructure will be developed to help advocate for arts education in schools. 

California Education Code requires that schools provide arts instruction for all students in grades one through 12. In fact, coursework in the arts or a foreign language is required for high school graduation. California State University and University of California requirements include one year of study in one of the arts.

In Santa Barbara County, the Children’s Creative Project run out of the County Education Office has provided performances and visiting artists to help keep arts instruction moving forward, and as a supplement to arts education provided by the districts. Several districts have foundations that have enabled them to provide arts education as well.

CCSESA believes county offices of education are positioned to play a leadership role in furthering arts education in area schools. The goal is to provide a comprehensive, quality arts education for all California students.