At the Los Angeles Unified School District School Board Meeting on March 13, 2012, the Board voted to move forward with placing a local Parcel Tax on the ballot for the November 2012 elections.  Board members stressed that this is a temporary, emergency measure designed to backfill the revenue shortfalls currently facing the district. 

On March 13th, the Los Angeles Unified School (LAUSD) Board will be voting on an updated fiscal stabilization plan.  This draft plan, released today by the Daily News, still includes a worst-case scenario that includes total elimination of elementary arts.

Any school event—especially those that involve parents, students and teachers—provides opportunities to build public will to maintain arts education within public schools. 

In Santa Monica-Malibu USD, for example, the annual Stairway of the Stars event has become an invaluable reminder of the power of the district’s renowned music education programs. 

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission has announced a Teacher Professional Development Grant Program made possible by gifts from The Boeing Company, W.M. Keck Founation and the Carl & Roberta Deutsch Foundation.  Arts for All has received $674,200 to support customized teacher training in the arts in twelve Los Angeles County School Districts, to be announced in May 2012. 

The Los Angeles Unified School District School Board has amended the budget-balancing plan for the 2012/2013 school year, postponing its adoption until March 13th.  They have requested alternatives and additional options regarding funding for arts education, adult education and early childhood education, all slated for elimination in one of the scenarios originally proposed.  School Board Member Steve Zimmer

Arts for LA is surveying candidates for Long Beach City Council, Culver City City Council and Long Beach Unified School District prior to the April 10th, 2012 local elections.  All candidates have been contacted and encouraged to complete a brief survey.  Results will be posted at ArtsforLA.org/spring-2012-candidate-surveys as they are submitted.  Candidate

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) School Board will be meeting to discuss budget scenarios, including the proposed total elimination of its elementary school arts education program, on Tuesday, February 14^th at 1:00 pm.  The LAUSD School Board will hold this public meeting at 333 South Beaudry Avenue, 24th Floor, Los Angeles,

The California Alliance for Arts Education and the California State PTA have partnered to offer School Board 101, a free one-hour webinar to help advocates work with their local school board to keep arts in schools. 

How did an elementary school become a canvas for five contemporary artists without costing the district a penny? 

It took some creativity.

Story by Camille Schenkkan for Arts for LA