BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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Date of Hearing: June 21, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS, TOURISM, AND
INTERNET MEDIA
Kansen Chu, Chair
SCR
112 (Fuller) - As Introduced February 18, 2016
SENATE VOTE: 36-0
SUBJECT: Arts Education Month.
SUMMARY: This measure would proclaim March 2016 to be Arts
Education Month and would encourage all elected officials to
participate with their educational communities in celebrating
the arts. Specifically, this bill makes the following findings
and declarations:
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
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lifelong learning capacities with the goal of 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, "[t]he adopted course
of study ... shall include instruction ... in ... [v]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
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higher education.
7)Throughout the last 10 years, arts education programs have
enjoyed significant investments by the State of California and
continue to see support by the Legislature.
8)It is the intent that this funding help implement a
comprehensive vision for arts education at the local level, to
ensure that every pupil in California benefits from this
investment.
9)This funding is the first step in investing in quality visual
and performing arts programs for all California pupils.
10)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.
11)Proclaims the month of March 2016 as Arts Education Month and
encourages all elected officials to participate with their
educational communities in celebrating the arts with
meaningful activities and programs for pupils, teachers, and
the public that demonstrate learning and understanding in the
visual and performing arts, and urges all residents to become
interested in and give full support to quality school arts
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programs for children and youth.
EXISTING LAW: No existing law.
FISCAL EFFECT: None. The Legislative Council has keyed this
Resolution non-fiscal.
COMMENTS:
Author's statement and support. This Resolution is supported by
California Alliance for Arts Education, who state, "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."
According to the author, "Arts Education includes dance, music,
theatre, literature, design, and various visual arts. California
has made a conscious decision to continue the support of arts
education. Arts Education has been made a key area in the
general education of high school and post-secondary education.
The UC and CSU systems require high school students to satisfy a
visual or performing arts requirement by completing a yearlong
course in dance, music, theatre or visual arts. Arts Education
month gives us the chance to highlight the important learning
and growth opportunities arts education gives our students."
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
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Support
California Alliance for Arts Education
Opposition
There is no opposition on file.
Analysis Prepared by:Jenesie Habeil / Dana Mitchell/
A.,E.,S.,T., & I.M. / (916) 319-3450