| Los Angeles Schools are seeing a steady increase in | | | | 3. Creating an implementation plan with a timeline |
| arts education as the dual result of a long-term | | | | 4. Assigning a district level arts coordinator |
| program and recent state funding. The Arts for All | | | | 5. Maintaining a student to arts teacher ratio of 400:1 |
| program was initiated in 2002 as a 10-year plan to | | | | Los Angeles Schools will pay for a program expert to |
| restore arts education to the 80 districts of Los | | | | guide parents, staff and community members in the |
| Angeles Schools. The project focuses on bringing | | | | creation of their implementation plan. The Lancaster |
| music, dance, drama and the visual arts to K-12 | | | | district has an additional grant of $260,000 for its art |
| schools in the area. Nine schools have just signed up | | | | and music programs. |
| for the 2007-2008 school year, bringing the total | | | | Los Angeles Schools welcome the increased funding |
| number of Los Angeles Schools involved up to 27. | | | | as a long overdue measure. Many educators in the |
| Two of the newest participants are the Lancaster and | | | | Los Angeles Schools have lamented the loss of the |
| Palmdale districts of Los Angeles Schools. Both | | | | arts as harmful to student development. While many |
| schools completely eliminated their elementary music | | | | of the cuts to arts education result from diverting |
| programs in the last decade due to budget cuts and | | | | funds to cover academic subjects needed to pass |
| increased pressure to perform on state tests. Major | | | | state tests, teachers argue that art actually enhances |
| cuts first began for Los Angeles Schools with | | | | learning, allows children to make connections between |
| Proposition 13 in 1978. This California mandate reduced | | | | subjects, and provides a much needed balance to |
| property taxes and district funds, which required all Los | | | | education. |
| Angeles Schools to reduce or eliminate arts and | | | | Like the rest of the country's urban districts Los |
| physical education classes. | | | | Angeles Schools are trying to meet the 2014 No Child |
| Los Angeles Schools were pleased when the state | | | | Left Behind requirement that mandates proficiency on |
| announced funding of $500 million for art, music and | | | | state tests by all students regardless of developmental |
| physical education classes in the beginning of June. Los | | | | delays or language barriers. Diverting funding away |
| Angeles Schools will use much of these funds for the | | | | from the arts has put Los Angeles Schools in a |
| Arts for All Program. Arts for All is built on a five-step | | | | situation where children as young as third grade are |
| process which, while proven effective, costs money. | | | | losing recess, physical activity and a basic arts |
| The five steps involved are: | | | | background in a frenzied scramble to meet rising |
| 1. Allocating 5% of a district's budget to arts education | | | | national standards. |
| 2. Having a board adopted policy | | | | |