Survey: Few Southern California school districts can afford comprehensive arts instruction
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
Students participate in a figure drawing class during the four-week California State Summer School for the Arts program at CalArts.
While state law requires school districts to give students access to music, dance, theater and visual arts instruction from first to 12th grade, few Southern California school districts responding to a survey by KPCC said they actually offer that level of arts access. Of the respondents, two dozen told KPCC they provide comprehensive arts access to fewer than half of their students.
The results were compiled from responses by 41 districts in Orange, Riverside, Ventura, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
“It has been a challenge to maintain these programs due to state budget cuts over the past 5-6 years,” wrote Nick Salerno, superintendent of El Monte Union High School District, which serves ninth-12th graders. Salerno reported that more than 80 percent of his students are offered instruction in music, theater and visual arts – but no more than 10 percent have access to dance instruction.
School officials told KPCC funding is the biggest obstacle to providing arts instruction.
“We have an exceptional program - but it is due to the funding efforts of our La Canada