Advocating for Equitable Access to Arts Education for Students in Poverty

Wednesday, October 17, 9:30am – 11:00am

Organized by Laura Zucker, executive director, Los Angeles Arts Commission.

Moderated by Julie Fry, program officer, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Presented by Danielle Brazell, executive director, Arts for LA; Joe Landon, executive director, California Alliance for Arts Education.

While Secretary of Education Arne Duncan supports using Title I funds for arts education to improve the achievement of disadvantaged students, local gatekeepers often deny Title I funds for the arts. In 2010, Arts for All assessed access to, and quality of, arts education instruction at the school site level in 100 schools in LA County. The results? Children attending Title I schools in high poverty neighborhoods lacked equal access to quality arts instruction compared to their peers in more affluent neighborhoods. This session details the efforts of a California-based advocacy campaign that is using these findings to spark a new national dialogue about the use of Title I funding for arts.