This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LAUSD Elementary Schools Could Soon Offer 100% Less Arts Education [UPDATED]
Photo by Valeriy Lebedev via Shutterstock
For many children, a chance to do some artwork, make some music, or get up on a stage is the highlight of their school day, and a opportunity to learn lessons in a creative way. But the Los Angeles Unified School District is looking to take that away from their elementary school students, with a proposal of "total elimination of its elementary school arts education program," according to Arts for LA, an L.A. County arts advocacy group.
The LAUSD even prides itself on "nationally recognized Elementary Arts Program," and appears to understand the value that kind of instruction has for their 700,000 elementary-aged students, as explained on the LAUSD site:
Elementary Arts Teachers provide direct instruction to students and strategically support classroom teachers in growing their capacity to teach foundational skills in all arts disciplines. This cultivates integration of arts strategies across the curriculum that fundamentally improve student achievement in literacy and numeracy.
Robin Lithgow, Administrative Coordinator of the Arts Education Branch of LAUSD explains the impact the cuts would have, in an email to LAist:
This would mean that 240 elementary dance, music, theatre and visual arts will be displaced into the classroom or will lose their jobs (and this is after a reduction from 355 teachers two years ago, at which time we were anticipating further growth, up to 600). Each week 30,000 students will not receive instruction in any art form. Over the course of the year that number will be doubled as teachers cycle through the school year. This must be seen in the context of 100% cuts in adult education and early education, both of which are also vital to the community inside and outside of LAUSD, and significant cuts in virtually every department in the District.
In response to the propose elimination of the Elementary Arts program, Arts for LA is calling for public action: "Arts for LA opposes this drastic measure and urges parents, students, arts advocates to take action by sending a letter to your school board member and sharing the alert with your networks." They suggest people share the action alert via Twitter and Facebook, to get the message out, and have prepared a how-to page on sending a letter to the LAUSD's Superintendent, John Deasy. As of this morning, Arts for LA says over 100 letters have been sent in, but their goal is 1000 by Friday.
Lithgow concludes that there remains hope, despite the looming cut: "We are confident that if California ever gets back to funding public education adequately, we WILL rebuild the arts programs. We know we have the support of the Board of Education, and we have the human capital to make the restoration happen quickly if and when funding is available."
Sponsored message
*Ed. Note: Updated 3:40 p.m. to include commentary from the LAUSD's Robin Lithgow.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
