At the beginning of this month, I was part of an event planned by six county offices of education to share how the California Arts Education Framework can be implemented through Proposition 28, or Arts and Music in Schools Funding. At this event we gave everyone a pair of sunglasses to represent looking at this funding through an assets-based lens. We still have unanswered questions, but we now have updated funding amounts and know the funding will begin arriving in districts in February 2024.

While we all continue to navigate this new, on-going funding, I want to encourage you to use your assets-based lenses and focus on the positive impacts this can have on students who have not historically had access to an arts education. If you are looking for additional resources and support, I encourage you to continue reading this newsletter, regularly visit the updated SDCOE VAPA website, and reach out to me with your questions by email or phone.

VAPA Coordinator, San Diego County of Education (SDCOE)

858-295-8881

Visit the SDCOE VAPA website to learn more about these professional learning opportunities:

Whether you are looking for resources to increase staffing, adopt new instructional materials, or find a new arts partnership, please check out the resources available on the SDCOE VAPA website to get informed and inspired today!

Youth Art Month (YAM) began in 2004 by The Council for Art Education and The National Art Education Association. The California Art Education Association, San Diego Area brings together its members from all over San Diego County grades K-12 both public and independent schools to submit the best of their students’ art. A selected jury of professions in the field of art education then takes time to look at each work of art and decide upon the awards based upon problem solving, creativity, observation, and communication. The top two to three winners of each category (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 in 2D and 3D) will move onto the So. Cal YAM Exhibition at the Riverside Art Museum, which brings together the awards winners from numerous areas of Southern California. From that point, those award winners move onto state exhibition in Sacramento, then onto the Pacific Region, and finally onto the National YAM Exhibition. This year’s Youth Art Month’s theme is called, Dream in Art.

Follow Clara on her magical journey from a Christmas party to the enchanted Snow Forest and on to the Land of the Sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier welcome magical performances from dancers throughout the world. This full-length (one hour and 45 minutes) production is performed by City Ballet's professional dance artists at California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

If you have an upcoming arts event for students or educators, an arts professional learning opportunity, or an arts curriculum resource to share, submit your ideas to us here.