Over the last three decades, as funding priorities have shifted and legislation has changed at the state and federal levels, arts education programs have often taken the hardest hit. While California Education Code Sections 51210 and 51220 require instruction in the arts, not every student in the state, or in Tulare County, has equal access to an arts education. This disparity is often the most prevalent in the county’s small and rural schools where student populations are minimal and resources are limited. 

Understanding that access to high-quality arts education is a critical part of a well-rounded education for all students, in 2017, the Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) received a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to create the county’s first strategic arts education plan. The strategic plan would provide a roadmap for expanding arts education across Tulare County schools.

Who Created the Plan?
To make the strategic plan a reality, TCOE partnered with the California Alliance for Arts Education and over the course of the 2017-18 school year, the groups brought together a diverse cadre of educators, arts organizations, and community stakeholders to envision a new reality for arts education in Tulare County. The work of the planning team was guided by an overarching vision - We believe that every student in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve deserves equitable access to high-quality arts learning as part of a well-rounded education.

What Does the Plan Include?
The Arts Master Plan is a strategic roadmap detailing the expansion of arts and cultural programs in the county’s schools. The AMP is aligned with the goals of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the eight state priorities in California’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). To advance arts education in Tulare County, the AMP focuses on four strategic directions: 1. Educational Equity for All; 2. Social and Emotional Well-Being; 3. College, Career, and Civic Life Readiness; and 4. Sustainable Systemic Change.

The strategic plan identifies goals and outcomes for planning, implementing, and sustaining high-quality arts learning experiences, both inside and outside of school. The AMP aligns the programs and departments operating within TCOE to the larger vision of arts education for all. The plan represents a commitment from the County Office to supporting high-quality standards-based arts education for years to come. The Arts Master Plan also defines a clear multi-year path to ensuring equitable access to the arts for all students, families, and communities in Tulare County.

How Can I Learn More?
If you would like to learn more about the strategic planning process, please email Kate Stover at kate.stover@tcoe.org.