Tag: Prop 28

California State PTA Urges Support of Prop 28: Art and Music in Public Schools

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by California State PTA Legislation Team

California State PTA supports Proposition 28 on the November ballot which funds art and music in public schools. California State PTA has strongly and actively advocated for a full curriculum that includes the arts for more than three decades. Based on that history,  a study of the measure, and the strength of relevant organizational authorities, our Board of Managers voted to support Proposition 28.

We encourage a yes vote on 28 and for all local PTAs to also encourage a yes vote on 28.

The passage of Proposition 28 is expected to generate more than $900 million a year in dedicated new funding for arts and music education for all public schools across California – without raising taxes. Our previous article about Proposition 28 provides more details on where those funds will come from, how they will be used, and how they will particularly benefit schools where the arts are often lacking.

Stronger Arts Education Improves the Lives of All Children

Guaranteed funding for arts education will support all kids. In the past, many schools have cut arts education even though studies show that the arts keep students in school, increase the graduation rate, increase academic performance, and add to students’ ability to create, collaborate, think critically, and communicate.

The evidence makes clear the many ways that arts education benefits students, including:

  • The arts help create well-rounded students and keep them motivated in school. 
  • Students who have an arts education are less likely to drop out of school. 
  • Access to the arts has led to higher attendance rates and lower dropout rates. 
  • An arts education can increase abilities in other subject areas such as language arts and math, especially for English language learners and students in low-income communities.

Did you know one out of 10 jobs in California are in a creative industry? Beyond those careers, the arts support the development of a reliable future for our students and our state. Nearly three out of four business leaders say that creativity is the #1 skill they are currently seeking. Creativity fosters 21st Century work skills like critical thinking and collaboration and provides social emotional learning that can help students face real-life problems in the workplace.  

Students with arts education are:

  • Five times less likely to drop out of school. 
  • Four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. 
  • Four times more likely to receive a bachelor’s degree. 
  • Thirty percent more inclined to pursue a professional career. 

Local PTAs Can Use Their Organizational Voice to Support Proposition 28

Many PTAs in California already actively advocate for arts education, for equity, and for strong education funding. This measure has all three! Because the California State PTA has already adopted a YES position on Proposition 28, local PTAs can use that as their authority for their own local advocacy. 

Your regular local meetings, social media channels, newsletters and other communications  platforms can all be used to encourage your community to Vote Yes on Proposition 28. The official Yes on Prop 28 campaign website has ideas for how you can take action. The campaign site also has a full coalition list of organizations that have signed on to actively support Proposition 28.

Be sure to remind families (and students over age 18!) to register to vote by October 24. And don’t forget to encourage everyone to vote in the November 8 election.

Learn more with an article in Ed100, by Carol Kocivar, Time to Fund Arts Education. 

California State PTA Supports Prop 28: Art & Music in Public Schools

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by California State PTA Legislation Team

For almost thirty five years, California State PTA has strongly and actively advocated for a full curriculum that includes the arts. Arts education supports all kids. In the past, many schools have cut arts education even though studies show that the arts keep students in school, increase the graduation rate, increase academic performance, and add to students’ ability to create, collaborate, think critically, and communicate.

Based on our long standing advocacy in this area,  a study of the measure, and the strength of relevant organizational authorities, our Board of Managers voted to support Proposition 28.  California State PTA is formally supporting and actively advocating for Proposition 28 – the Art and Music in Public Schools Measure. The measure is on the ballot of California’s statewide election on November 8.

How Proposition 28 Supports Arts Education

The passage of Proposition 28 is expected to generate more than $900 million a year in dedicated new funding for arts and music education for all public schools across California – without raising taxes. The measure provides extra funding for schools serving students in low-income communities, who are predominantly students of color, thus addressing current inequities in students’ access to arts and music education. This funding would be in addition to the state’s Proposition 98 minimum funding guarantee. 

The majority of the funding is to be used to hire new teachers and staff (80 percent). That represents about a 50 percent increase in arts and music educators in classrooms in California. Besides traditional Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) programs, funds will be used to pay for instruction in computer graphics, animation, coding, and costume design. The measure helps address cuts to arts education which have occurred in many California school districts. 

The initiative also includes strong accountability and transparency measures. It requires school districts to submit annual, public reports to verify the funds are spent as intended, to directly benefit students.

Local PTAs Can Use Their Organizational Voice to Lend Support

When there is an officially adopted California State PTA position on a ballot measure, such as Proposition 28, local PTAs can use that as their authority for their own local advocacy. Many PTAs in California already actively advocate for arts education, for equity, and for strong education funding. This measure has all three!

Local PTAs can use your regular local meetings, social media channels, newsletters and other communications platforms to encourage your community to Vote Yes on Proposition 28. California State PTA will also be putting together social media messages for your convenience. 

Remind families (and students!) to register to vote. And don’t forget to encourage everyone to vote in the November 8 election.

Individual action and advocacy is also important. The official Yes on Prop 28 campaign website encourages individuals to join the campaign and has a sign-up for volunteers.

A Wealth of Education and Arts Organizations Support Proposition 28.

California State PTA is not alone in supporting Proposition 28. A growing list of organizations in the Arts, Education, and many other fields have signed on to the coalition. You’ll find the full coalition list on the campaign website.