Prop 28: Arts and Music in Schools Planning Toolkit
In November 2022, California voters passed Proposition 28, the Arts and Music In Schools (AMS) Act, which will provide ongoing annual funding for arts education. In the first year, the 2023/24 school year, California public schools will receive $938 million for the arts.
Prop 28 AMS brings a historic opportunity for schools and districts to invest in arts education to help all students succeed in school and life and reach their career goals.
The Prop 28 AMS Planning Toolkit, developed in consultation with arts education field leaders, will help Local Education Agency (LEA) administrators, school site staff, and their allies collaborate to effectively plan for Prop 28 AMS and strategize to build or further develop a comprehensive arts program in dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts in every school and grade level.
The toolkit includes profiles of school districts’ efforts to develop arts programs, common questions, and templates to aid Prop 28 AMS planning.
Disclaimer: These documents are for planning purposes only. They are not official compliance documents. None of the content should be construed as legal advice or interpretation of the education code requirements for Prop 28 AMS. Schools and LEAs are encouraged to use these items in a manner best suited for their unique situation.
Prop 28 AMS Common Questions
This page addresses common questions regarding Prop 28 AMS, arts education strategic planning, and promising practices for building a comprehensive, equitable, and standards-aligned arts education program. Please note that this page is not implementation guidance (see CDE’s FAQ).
Collecting Community Input Template (PDF)
The purpose of this tool is to support LEAs in collecting community input on how they should use Prop 28 funding to support arts programming in schools.
Prop 28 AMS Inventory of Arts Education Programming and Expenditures
- Instructions (PDF)
- Workbook (Excel)
This template is intended to assist LEAs who need support in determining the total funding spent on arts programming in the prior year. Other LEAs may already have documentation of what was spent on arts education the prior year and, therefore, may not need to use this tool.
Prop 28 AMS School Site Expenditure Plan Template
- Instructions (PDF)
- Workbook (Excel)
This template is intended to assist LEAs who need support in planning expenditures for Prop 28 AMS funds. Other LEAs may already have established methods for planning arts program expenditures and may not need to use this tool.
LEA Arts Education Program Profiles
The following profiles highlight various local education agencies’ (LEAs) efforts to develop quality arts education programming for their students. These profiles intend to support LEAs in generating ideas for expanding access to arts education in their local contexts with funds generated through Prop 28 AMS.
- Elk Grove Unified School District: Building a Roadmap to Arts Success
- Manteca Unified School District: Building on a Successful Music Program
- Mountain View Elementary School District: Leveraging Community Partnerships
- Palermo Union School District: Bringing a Creative Mindset to Funding
- San Diego County Office of Education: Wide-Reaching County Support for the Arts
- Val Verde Unified School District: Aiming Beyond an Art Class
Acknowledgment Page
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Arts Education Strategic Planning Resources
These resources are meant to facilitate an LEA to assess, envision, plan, and implement arts education programs.
The California Dance Education Association recognizes the logistical and space challenges of providing dance education, especially in schools without dedicated dance space. This tip sheet is designed to help school community members, administrators, and teachers with the resources to ensure that dance is available and accessible without barriers to all CA students.
California Department of Education
- Prop 28 – Arts and Music in Schools Main Page
- Prop 28 – Arts and Music in Schools FAQ
- Prop 28 – Arts and Music in Schools Funding Results
The California Arts Standards
Arts education in California is based on the California Arts Standards. The Standards are the “what” for student learning expectations, which include outcomes for what we want students to know, understand, and be able to do. Programs should be organized to enable students to achieve the outcomes in the standards for each discipline.
The California Arts Education Framework
The framework is the “how” for standards implementation, including guidance for planning instruction and educational programs. Strategic plans should be informed by guidance in the Framework to ensure equitable access for all students.
California Arts Education Data Project
These interactive dashboards were created to track student participation and credentialed visual and performing arts teachers in California.
Prop 28 AMS Advocacy Resources
Use this flyer and presentation at meetings and events to inform your community about the Arts & Music in Schools Act and the exciting impact this funding can make.
The toolkit was made possible by the generous support of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and developed by Create CA, WestEd, California County Superintendents Arts Initiative, Association of California School Administrators, California Latino School Board Association, and the Small School Districts Association.
