“When I was in fifth grade at elementary school and had just moved from Missouri to Michigan, my concern was not math or literacy but who I was going to have lunch with. I didn’t know anyone. I was a shy child. A music teacher invited me to a class during lunchtime. The class was to teach me how to play the cello, and then I picked up the bass and guitar. That helped me develop a sense of belonging,” said Beutner.
Austin Beutner: Proposition 28, which created an annual source of funding for arts and music education in California’s preschool through grade 12 public schools without raising taxes, was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2022.
The big question is whether the nearly one billion dollars for arts and music education has already started to arrive at California schools this school year.
Through these resources, children will be able to start taking classes in music, dance, computer science, coding, and film, among other artistic programs.
PARRIVA spoke with the former superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Austin Beutner, the author of Proposition 28.
Are public schools already receiving funds from Proposition 28?
The law was approved in November, and the funds were delivered to schools at the beginning of the school year in August. Some schools are already prepared with their programs, while it may take more time for others to receive the funding.
How many schools are we talking about?
Every public school from preschool to grade 12 will receive funding. We are talking about nearly 6 million children across 10,000 schools.
“One of the things we are blessed with in California is a wonderful diversity of artists, dancers, actors, animators, musicians, and painters. So the opportunity and the money are there to attract them to schools and help them become arts educators,” said Beutner.
But do we have an idea of what percentage of schools has already received Proposition 28 funding?
The way the law works is that it has placed the money into each school’s account throughout the state.
How much money will the schools receive exactly?
It’s about 4% of the state’s general budget. For this year, it’s $942 million, but it will increase each year if the budget increases. It will be a proportional percentage to the spending plan.
One of the main concerns about Proposition 28 was whether we would have enough teachers to teach art and music in our schools. Where do we stand on that front?
One of the things we are blessed with in California is a wonderful diversity of artists, dancers, actors, animators, musicians, and painters. So the opportunity and the money are there to attract them to schools and help them become arts educators.
“We will need to hire an average of 15,000 people to teach art and music to children. Now we need to connect the talent, the artists, and the creative people to come and work in our public schools, where they can make a difference, perhaps part-time while they continue with their art.”
Do you have an idea of how many teachers have been hired? Do we have these numbers yet?
Not yet. I’m sure we will have them available. My hope is that each school decides to spend the money to benefit the children, which means they need teachers and assistants to provide instruction and help those interested in different positions in art and music education.
Where can people or artists interested in teaching in schools go?
We will have more information to share in the coming weeks on how to connect artists with schools. In the meantime, they can approach schools and the school district in their neighborhoods and express their interest. They can start there. But we are creating a way to connect artists with schools that we will announce soon.
“We felt it was appropriate to provide nearly half of the money to schools serving struggling children who tend to participate less in extracurricular music programs.”
Were the concerns about the lack of rules or guidelines for spending the money in schools addressed?
The most important question is about which programs will be implemented in each particular school. This is something that each school must decide or may have already decided. If they want mariachi, dance, indigenous culture programs, or anything else that suits them best.
You fought hard for Proposition 28 to be approved. Are you satisfied with the current situation and the implementation process at this point?
I’m thrilled that voters approved what will be the largest investment in arts and music in the history of our nation. We will continue working to ensure that schools have the money to fund the right programs and that teachers have the materials they need to succeed.
“So, the implementation work is still ahead. But I’m excited and thrilled to see that this historic investment will bring art and music to our public school children in California.”
Why was it so important for you to teach art and music in our California schools?
It’s the glue that holds us all together. Art and music prepare students to tell their stories and the work of tomorrow. Personally, when I was in fifth grade at elementary school and had just moved from Missouri to Michigan, my concern was not math or literacy but who I was going to have lunch with. I didn’t know anyone. I was a shy child. A music teacher invited me to a class during lunchtime. The class was to teach me how to play the cello, and then I picked up the bass and guitar. That helped me develop a sense of belonging. I could play in front of thousands of people before I could speak in front of them.
“We all have our stories, but art is universal. Some of us may lean toward music, theater, dance, and film. Art is an essential part of a good education. With the approval of Proposition 28, every child in public schools will have an opportunity to participate.
“Music and art education are essential components of a good education. And now, with Proposition 28, every child in a school will have the opportunity to participate.”
Will schools in low-income neighborhoods receive more money?
They will receive almost double. We really want to ensure that every child throughout the state of California benefits to strongly address the equity issue. We felt it was appropriate to provide nearly half of the money to schools serving struggling children who tend to participate less in extracurricular music programs.
Will there be a way to assess the results of Proposition 28 each year?
Every school will be required each year to submit a public report to their school community that potentially answers simple questions like the impact of art programs. We will see that some schools will have a greater impact and how others have spent their funds more wisely. Schools will have a guide on what they can aspire to change.
How can we ensure that the state will not divert these funds for other needs?
The state has to spend this money for that purpose. That’s one good thing that a ballot measure does when it’s supported by two million voters. The only way to change it is if voters decide to do so. I have confidence that since this measure had overwhelming support, nearly 65% of voters, the money spent on arts and music education in our schools will be enduring.
Beutner noted that these funds are arriving at a very important time, as communities are recovering from COVID, isolation, pain, and loss.
“I’m excited to see what this measure will mean for children’s creativity because future directors, animators, innovators will come from public schools, and by providing them with art education, we will better prepare them to lead a creative economy that will empower today’s California.”
Austin Beutner leads the charge for arts and music for all students in California
