Arts Expansion
Superintendent Carol R. Johnson has made expansion of arts education one of the cornerstones of her Acceleration Agenda for the Boston Public Schools. In partnership with community organizations, Dr. Johnson has committed to giving students of all ages greater access to the arts -- including music, dance, theater, visual arts, and more -- during and after the school day.
February 10, 2010: Arts Advantage 2010 - Arts Expansion Progress Report
October 27, 2009: Read about the $750,000 Wallace Foundation grant!
2009-2010 BPS Arts Events Calendar:
The Arts Advantage
To assess the state of arts education in the district, Dr. Johnson convened an Arts Advisory Group and commissioned a study, conducted in collaboration with EdVestors, with support from the Barr Foundation, the Hunt Alternatives Fund, the Linde Foundation, the Boston Foundation, and other donors.
In February 2009, the group released The Arts Advantage, describing the extent of arts offerings in schools. The report indicated that fully 70 percent of BPS students receive weekly arts instruction. The report also included recommendations for expansion and improvement, and established a system-wide goal of 100% percent of students in kindergarten through grade 8 receiving at least weekly arts instruction by 2012.
The school district and its partners also announced the creation of a $1.5 million Arts Expansion Fund. Over the next three years, schools may apply for annual grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, depending on the scope of the proposal. Funds also will be directed to expand district capacity to coordinate arts education initiatives, as well as ongoing research and planning efforts in support of the expansion initiative.
Download The Arts Advantage: Expanding Arts Education in the Boston Public Schools
Visit the BPS Arts website
