ProvidenceConvening

April 2013

Vision & Principles

Access ~ Equity ~ Quality

“Arts are crucial to a rigorous and high-quality education – and access to the arts in schools is an issue of equity for all of Boston’s children.”

– Dr. Carol R. Johnson, Superintendent

Phase I – SY2008-2011 Phase II – SY2012-2015• Access+ Equity

• Planning

• Investing

• Quality

• Capacity building

• Sustaining

Key Expansion Goal: 100% of students in K-8 receive weekly, year-long instruction

Implementation Plan

Strategy and Approach

A multi-year, three-part strategy:

• Expand direct in-school arts education

• Build capacity of BPS schools and central office

• Strengthen partnership coordination to leverage cultural resources

Progress to Date: Access

67%

26%

86%

56%

2009 2013 Nearly 20% increase in K-8 access to weekly, year-long instruction

More than doubled high school arts opportunities

14,000 additional students now accessing arts learning opportunities

Arts Expansion Funding

• Local Arts Expansion Fund supports direct arts instruction• $4.5M of $5.5M raised to date

• Wallace funds support the adult work and capacity-building to build a sustainable system

• Now $10M enterprise over 6+ years

• Complemented by increased public funds from schools & district (+$2M annually) for more arts teachers Arts Ex-

pansion Fund

Wallace0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

2Phase II

Current Work: Phase II

• Central Office and Leadership

• Teachers and Curriculum

• Assessment and Data

• Sustainability – Communications & Outreach

7

Arts Executive

Leadership Team

Arts Advisory Board

Arts Coordination

TeamArts Working Committee

Quality Work Group

Curriculum and

Instruction Work Group

Partnership Coordination Work Group

High School Work Group

Research and Data Analysis

Work Group

Fundraising and Communications

Work Group

Stakeholder Involvement

Over 60 Arts Specialists, Principals and Headmasters, Nonprofit Partners and Researchers

Key Learnings

• Use data – it is a powerful tool– Neutralizes old disagreements– Drives goal setting, measurement and momentum

• Engage stakeholders broadly and consistently

• Construct a thoughtful public/private partnership from the beginning, that builds on the context of a city

• Build school district capacity as key lever to increased access and quality of arts instruction

Current Challenges

• Dosage, frequency and pathways – What dosage and frequency has impact and is attainable during the school day? How do we ensure pathways within and among schools?

• Sustainability: for district and for arts partners– Rewarding new ways of working for schools without strong arts,

supporting schools prioritizing the arts, keeping them all engaged for the long term

– Making the case and embedding the effort in schools

“Expanding the arts in schools brings new energy to classrooms, increases engagement by students, and improves school choices for families. The arts enrich our young people, our schools, and our neighborhoods.”

- Mayor Thomas M. Menino