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Update
On Friday, May 27th, LAUSD announced that the Elementary Arts Program is fully restored to 2010-2011 central allocation 2011-2012, avoiding a potential 60% cut. Thank you who have worked so diligently to make sure the Arts have been a focus for both the District and UTLA.

The restoration still leaves Arts Education Branch funding levels 30% lower than 2008-2009, and due to fewer purchases made from schools, there will be about 20 fewer arts teachers in the program. Many LAUSD elementary students will still be denied adequate access to the levels of arts instruction at this level. We still need to fight for the restoration of arts positions K-12, but we've dodged most of a potentially devastating budgeting decision.

Middle and high schools are bearing most of the cuts to arts ed right now. Arts teachers district-wide received about 30% of the pink slips issued for single subject teachers (although arts teachers only make up 5% of the high school and middle school positions), and schools have not purchased positions back in recent budgets revisions. As of the beginning of September, 2011, there are still 105 pink-slipped arts teachers without a position to return to in LAUSD.

Schools are now responsible for restoring Arts and other needs through their own discretionary funds: the tentative UTLA/LAUSD agreement relies on school sites to restore many positions. Please engage with your school site council and administration to make sure your local school is doing what it can to give the children what they deserve! Here is the budgeting document and instructional flyer for purchasing Arts Program positions at elementary schools.

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Video Activism
Submit a 60 to 90 second video expressing how the Arts have impacted your life. Upload the video on Youtube, then submit your video here. We are sharing these videos through our Facebook page and on our Friends of the Arts Youtube channel.

Download the Video Activism Campaign Flyer. Feel free to distribute

Fundraising
Save the Arts, a newly founded-organization dedicated to preserving arts education in LAUSD, held a fundraiser event and art auction for the Arts Education Branch at the Cocoanut Grove Auditorium Theatre on June 11, 2011. All donations through Save the Arts will be used to save arts teacher positions or fund arts materials in LAUSD schools. We'ds love your donations! http://www.savethearts.net/


Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Tuesday, May 24th Rally to Save Education in California

Please join us in this upcoming action to restore funding at a State level. Bring your "Save the Arts" type signage!

Wake Up California! Rallies to support public education funding Tuesday, May 24th.
Educate Our State is a parent-led, statewide campaign to unite the voices of Californians in support of high-quality K-12 Public Education and demand real change. Parents and concerned citizens are coordinating a statewide, multi-city day of action to increase awareness for the crisis facing California public schools and the need for our legislators to take action and pass the revenue extension measures to secure school funding.  Parents are organizing rallies across the state to demonstrate the united voice of Californians in support of K-12 public education.

Please join parents, teachers and other arts education advocates at Central High School # 9, from 3:15 to about 5:00 on Tuesday, May 24th for a downtown rally. There will be a stage set up near the corner of Cesar Chavez and Grand.

If you can't make this rally, there will be other opportunities at schools, and a large rally at the Federal Building in Westwood at rush hour. Teachers and parents supporting arts education and education in general should join in this impressive grassroots effort to save our schools. Let's make sure the value of arts education is voiced while we join in the cause!

http://www.educateourstate.org/wake-up-california-rally.php

Posted by at 8:59 PM

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