$105 Million Allocation for Arts Education Makes History in California and Nationwide
Reproduced from the CA Alliance for Arts Education ArtsEdMail newsletter: Special Edition July 3, 2006

In approving the final budget on June 30, 2006, California designated the largest known state-funded expenditure for arts education in public schools in California and nationwide. Schools will now receive an estimated $105 million in ongoing funding for arts education (estimated at $17-18 per student), in addition to a one-time allocation of $500 million for arts, music, and physical education equipment. This funding stream will go to every school district statewide, slowing an alarming trend of cuts for arts and music in public schools.

We applaud Governor Schwarzenegger and the Legislature for making this funding a reality. And we also need to give credit to the tireless arts education advocates throughout the state who came together to fight for something vitally important for our children. In addition to the thousands of individuals who met with legislators, wrote letters, sent faxes and emails, organizations instrumental to making this funding a reality include:  The California State PTA, NAMM: The International Music Products Association, the Music For All Foundation, The Recording Academy, the Music Center: Performing Arts Center of California County, and the CA Alliance for Arts  Education Board of Directors. The California Arts Council, California Arts Advocates, The California Arts Project, Alameda County Office of Education, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, Americans for the Arts, MENC: The National Association of Music Education, The California Music Project, Yamaha Corporation, and countless others also provided invaluable support.

We look forward to a sustained and growing commitment to funding arts  education in California. This funding is the beginning, not the end, of what we hope will give every child the opportunity for a quality education.

Act Now to thank the Governor and your legislators to thank them for their leadership and commitment  to this historic investment, which moves California closer to putting arts education where it belongs: in every classroom across the state.   

Highlights from the 2006-07 Enacted State Budget

ARTS AND MUSIC BLOCK GRANT
The 2006-07 Budget includes $105 million Proposition 98 General Fund for  an annual Arts and Music Block Grant program. These funds will be distributed to school districts, charter schools and county offices of education to  support standards aligned instruction in kindergarten through grade twelve. The funds will be available for hiring additional staff, staff development, purchasing materials, books, supplies and equipment. The funding will be allocated at an equal amount per pupil, with a minimum of $2,500 for school sites with twenty or fewer students and a minimum of $4,000 per site with more than twenty students.

ARTS, MUSIC AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION ONE-TIME EQUIPMENT GRANTS
The Budget also includes $500 million Proposition 98 General Fund on a one-time basis for the purchase of arts, music and/or physical education supplies and equipment. With these resources, schools will be able to make significant investments in items such as musical instruments, kilns, photographic equipment and multi-media design equipment. Further, this  significant investment of resources will allow schools to make meaningful investments in order to improve and expand the infrastructure of physical education programs to help address the rising incidence of obesity. Grants will be allocated to school districts, charter schools and county offices of education on an equal amount per pupil, based on the number of pupils in kindergarten and grades one through twelve, with a minimum funding level of $2,500 for small schools.