LAUSD Campaign
What you can do:
Join the team! Become a member of the LAUSD Arts Advocacy team.
Send a letter to your School Board Representative (takes two minutes)
Learn more about the history of LAUSD and Arts Education
Schedule and/or attend an advocacy meeting with a Board member
Learn the Facts: Why Kids Need Arts Ed
- Last Updated: July 21, 2010
In June 2010, Superintendent Cortines, with full support of the LAUSD School Board, passed a motion to restore $5 million for arts education into the 2010/2011 budget. This proposal reduces the blow to arts education from 1/2 to 1/3.
Due to the budget crisis, the Los Angeles Unified School District announced plans in early 2010 to eliminate 50% of its Elementary Arts Teachers (dance, music-general/vocal and instrumental, theatre and visual arts) - a staggering 173 of the 345 arts teachers - with plans to eliminate the remaining 50% in 2011-2012.
Response from Superintendent Cortines, January 2010
The office of LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines sent the following response on behalf of Mr. Cortines regarding the LAUSD arts education advocacy campaign:
Dear Ms. Brazell,
Thank you for your email. I hope that you are aware that no one is more supportive of the arts in our schools than I am. In fact, during the 2009-2010 school year we did not only maintain the arts programs at the elementary level, we expanded the arts programs so that all four content areas were provided for all elementary children.
I believe that we have to all be realistic and acknowledge the economic situation that school district and the State finds itself in. The economic crisis that we face is not anything that we can “will” away. We have to keep our eye on the programs for children and not adult agendas. I am not proposing that we eliminate the arts program; however, arts programs will not be offered to children as frequently as they have been in the past.
Thank you for providing me the opportunity to explain.
Ray Cortines
