It’s no secret that funding for arts education has consistently decreased over the past twenty years. We’ve explored this trend in our blog, Why Are Schools Getting Rid of the Arts? Despite this trend in government, most Americans believe arts and music education is essential for our children. In November 2022, millions of California voters approved Proposition 28: The Arts and Music in Schools – Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act. This massive proposition promises to revolutionize arts and music education in public and charter schools across the state.
What is Proposition 28, why is it important, and what does this mean for the future of arts education in public schools? Let’s take a deep dive into this landmark California legislation.
What Is Proposition 28?
Despite decreasing funding, arts education is vital for childhood development. Integrating arts into classroom learning has proven to benefit students, utilizing creativity to help them understand, connect, and evolve.
Proposition 28 emerged from the increasing recognition of the importance of arts education for K-12 students. This proposition was designed to provide a reliable funding source for arts education, ensuring students have continuous access to these enriching programs.
Proposition 28’s plan is threefold: Funding, Implementation, and Accountability and Reporting.
Funding
The initiative guarantees an annual funding boost of between $800 million and $1 billion, supplementing Proposition 98 education funds. The funds are distributed using a carefully designed equity formula, ensuring fair and impactful allocation.
Specifically, 70% of the funding is allocated based on overall school enrollment, reflecting the number of students who will benefit from enhanced arts education. The remaining 30% is directed to schools serving economically disadvantaged students, recognizing the critical need to support underfunded and underserved communities.
Implementation
The California Department of Education (CDE) oversees Proposition 28's proper implementation. It sets the rules and guidelines for how the funds should be used and ensures the money gets to the schools that need it.
Funds started being given out in February 2024. Schools have up to three years to spend their money, giving them plenty of time to plan and improve their arts programs. Each school must create a detailed plan showing how to use the funds. This plan must be approved by the local education agency (LEA) boards, ensuring the community agrees with the proposed use of the funds.
Accountability & Reporting
To ensure Proposition 28 funds improve arts education, schools must use this money to add to their current arts funding, not replace it. For example, if a school spent $1 million on arts programs in the 2022-2023 school year, they need to keep spending that amount plus their Prop 28 money in the following years.
Schools must also send annual reports showing how they spent the money and confirming that they followed the rules. The CDE can give particular permission to adjust spending requirements if necessary, providing flexibility to address unique situations. This way, we ensure that arts programs benefit from the additional funds.
Why Is It Important?: Impact on Schools & Students
Proposition 28 ensures that every student has the opportunity to discover and develop their creative talents. By providing consistent and substantial funding for arts education, the initiative aims to create a more prosperous, vibrant learning environment where creativity can thrive. Students from all backgrounds can access various artistic programs and resources, allowing them to explore and nurture their creative abilities.
The extra money from Proposition 28 is expected to improve schools and benefit students significantly. For example, 80% of these funds are reserved to hire more teachers, with 20% for arts education support. Good teachers make or break a classroom experience, so this emphasis is incredibly important. To quell concerns over teacher shortages, the California County Superintendents Arts Initiative has created a resource to help school districts and teachers fulfill this need.
How BAM! is Here to Help
At BAM!, we're excited to help schools make the most of Proposition 28's benefits. Our mission is to provide students with top-quality arts education, perfectly matching the goals of this new initiative. We offer various engaging art programs to inspire creativity, foster critical thinking, and encourage student teamwork.
Our experienced teachers provide excellent instruction in different art forms, ensuring students have a rich and fulfilling art experience. Plus, BAM! can assist schools in creating and implementing their spending plans to meet Prop 28 requirements. By partnering with us, schools can use our expertise and resources to boost their arts programs and give students more opportunities to explore their artistic talents.
We offer a variety of arts and music programs that encourage creative enrichment for students of all abilities. From Imagination Studio and ArtsQuest to Unruly Music and StageCraft, our After-School Courses offer solutions for schools seeking to provide quality arts education.
Community Involvement
The success of Proposition 28 relies not only on funding but also on active community involvement. Parents, educators, and community members are crucial in supporting and sustaining arts education. By staying informed about Proposition 28, advocating for strategic arts plans, and sharing resources, we can collectively ensure that the initiative fulfills its promise.
The California Department of Education has provided reference guides for parents and guardians, educators and professionals, and local agencies and governmental boards to increase transparency and understanding of this legislation.
Proposition 28 marks a significant milestone in the journey to enrich arts education in California. Brains & Motion Education is ready to support this effort, offering programs and expertise to help schools make the most of their arts education funds. Together, we can create a vibrant and inclusive arts education landscape that empowers every student to thrive.