BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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THIRD READING
Bill No: ACR 25
Author: Campos (D), et al
Amended: 3/25/11 in Assembly
Vote: 21
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Read and adopted, 3/25/11
SUBJECT : Arts Education Month
SOURCE : California Alliance for Arts Education
DIGEST : This resolution declares March 2011 to be Arts
Education Month, encourages all elected officials to
participate with their educational communities in
celebrating the arts, and urges all residents to become
interested in and give full support to quality school arts
programs for children and youth.
ANALYSIS :
Resolution Findings
1.Arts education, which includes dance, music, theatre,
and the visual arts, is an essential and integral part
of basic education for all pupils in prekindergarten,
kindergarten, and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
2.The arts are crucial to achieving a state educational
policy that is devoted to the teaching of basic academic
skills and lifelong learning capacities with the goal of
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truly preparing all children for success after high
school regardless of gender, age, economic status,
physical ability, or learning ability.
3.A systematic, substantive, and sequential visual and
performing arts curriculum addresses and develops ways
of thinking, questioning, expression, and learning that
complement learning in other core subjects, but that is
unique in what it has to offer.
4.Pupils benefit from arts learning in the areas of
cultural understanding, readiness for learning and
creative thinking, cognitive outcomes, emotional
intelligence and expression, social interaction and
collaboration, and preparation for the workplace and
lifelong learning.
5.Arts education in California is mandated for pupils in
grades 1 to 12, inclusive, by Sections 51210 and 51220
of the Education Code, which provide, in part, that the
adopted course of study shall include instruction in
"Ýv]isual and performing arts, including instruction in
the subjects of dance, music, theatre, and visual arts,
aimed at the development of aesthetic appreciation and
the skills of creative expression".
6.The arts are recognized as part of a quality education,
and the University of California and the California
State University have instituted a policy that includes
visual and performing arts as a college preparatory
subject for all high school pupils wishing to enter
California's institutions of higher education.
7.In 2006, the Legislature passed and Governor
Schwarzenegger signed into law a landmark investment in
music and arts education programs, including a block
grant $105 million to support standards-aligned
instruction in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12,
inclusive.
8.In 2006, the Legislature also passed and Governor
Schwarzenegger signed into law an additional $500
million to be distributed on a one-time basis for the
purchase of visual and performing arts and physical
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education professional development supplies and
equipment.
9.In 2007, this ongoing investment in arts education plus
a cost-of-living increase was passed by the Legislature
and signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger.
10.The Legislature intends this funding to help implement a
comprehensive vision for arts education at the local
level, to ensure that every pupil in California benefits
from this investment.
11.This funding is the first step in investing in quality
visual and performing arts programs for all California
pupils.
12.Many national and state professional arts education
associations hold celebrations in the month of March,
giving California schools a unique opportunity to focus
on the value of the arts for all pupils, to foster
cross-cultural understanding, to give recognition to the
state's outstanding young artists, and to enhance public
support for this essential part of the curriculum.
Comments
According to the author, "To succeed in today's economy of
ideas, students must master the use of words, images,
sounds and motion to communicate. The arts provide the
skills and acknowledge students need to develop the
creativity and determination necessary to succeed in
today's global information age." The author further adds,
"Effective arts education is one of the most important
long-term issues and opportunities facing the arts world
and California. Since 2005, all students entering the
University of California and the California State
University are required to satisfy the visual and
performing arts admission requirement by completing an
appropriate course in dance, music, theatre, or the visual
arts in high school. The arts are considered core subjects
in No Child Left Behind. Despite severe budgetary
concerns, several local districts and county offices of
education throughout the state have demonstrated long-term
commitment to restoring arts education."
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FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 4/6/11)
California Alliance for Arts Education (source)
California Educational Theatre Association
California Park and Recreation Society
California School Boards Association
LEAP
Los Angeles County Arts Commission
Streetside Stories
Young Storytellers Foundation
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the sponsors, the
California Alliance for Arts Education, "Research shows
that the arts are a critical link in student success. Arts
education is linked to higher test scores across all
subjects, as well as lower dropout rates. It fosters
creativity and imagination, hallmarks of careers in the
21st century. Beyond the classroom, the arts are shown to
nurture collaboration and civic engagement in young
people."
CPM:cm 4/6/11 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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