A group of parents from Dahlia Heights Elementary School’s PTA recently created a new advocacy group to help keep arts education alive and well in Los Angeles public schools and in the LAUSD budget.  Read on to find out how this group mobilized to meet with their board member and plans to continue advocating that arts education be preserved in next year's budget...

What is quality when it comes to either the practice or evaluation of teaching artistry?  Since there is no accrediting body to sanctify the profession, how do organizations, teaching artists, and consumers of teaching artistry know when quality exists? 

It’s an important question.  Some non-profit arts organizations do offer teaching artist training, yet many others hire artists that self-proclaim their status as a teaching artist with a wide variety of artistic and educational training, sometimes with very little of the latter.

Advocacy works. 

At the February 16, 2010 meeting, the LAUSD School Board passed a version of the Parcel Tax Measure with the arts included in the 75-word summary.

The motion, made by Board Member Steve Zimmer, was seconded by Nury Martinez was passed 5-1.  Tamar Galzan voted no and Margarette LaMotte was not present. 

Congratulations to everyone who took action: please click here to thank the LAUSD for their commitment to a complete education for every student.

We will post a link to the revised text of the parcel tax when that information becomes available.

Earlier this morning, Arts for LA reported that the LAUSD school board would vote today on whether or not to put a parcel tax ballot measure on the June 2010 ballot.  The proposed measure will help raise millions of dollars for the district.  The summary parcel tax language did not include designated funding for the arts in the 75-word summary to be used in ballots for the June special election.

Within three hours, nearly 100 local advocates wrote to the School Board asking that the arts be included in the parcel tax summary language.  The proposed language was: "To offset severe state budget cuts, improve student achievement in reading/mathematics/science/arts, maintain vocational education and job training programs…"

Click for more information about today's School Board Meeting.

Arts for LA just received word that the LAUSD school board will vote today on whether or not to put a parcel tax ballot measure on the June 2010 ballot.

The proposed measure will help raise millions of dollars for the district. Unfortunately, the summary parcel tax language does not include designated funding for the arts.

Take action now. Click here to send a letter and tell your school board member that you want the arts included in the parcel tax summary language to read: "To offset severe state budget cuts, improve student achievement in reading/mathematics/science/arts, maintain vocational education and job training programs…"