​Advocacy Topics​

ART as a CORE SUBJECT

• America For the Arts facts about ESSA, Every Child Succeeds Act, a federally approved Act in December, 2015, specifies “Arts are part of BASIC education" 
• America For the Arts Advocacy: www.artsusa.org The national organization that strives to make arts more accessible to every adult and child in America. The AFTA site contains an Arts Advocacy Page along with Advocacy tips, tools, research data, and more.

CORE 24

Core 24 specifies that 2 of the 24 credits required for graduation are to be visual or performing art credits. Previously the requirement was one credit

• Opening Doors with Core 24, the 2010 initial proposal about a new set of credit requirements for high school graduation

          CORE 24 Initiative 

• Graduation Requirements by the Washington State Board of Directors This web site explains what the Board passed in 2015 that begins with the class of 2019 forward.

      GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 

​Senate Bill 5878

It was The Arts Education Equity Initiative, formerly I-1681, brought to the Washington Legislature as a bill! And it passed in 2023!

Link to the Bill.
It is always smart to go to the source and read the law.

This law easily represents the biggest advance for Arts Education this state has ever seen. It requires real equity of Art instruction for ALL Washington students, no matter where they live or what their socio-economic status is. In a time when Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is so desperately needed, this law brings it to them in its most effective and most authentic way--through The Visual and Performing Arts!! Be a part of making good on the promise of real comprehensive, sequential Arts instruction for our kids!

We have to make it happen though. 

Link to draft letter to Parent organization to show support for the arts education mandate in your community.
Link to example used in Northshore.

Link to a Google Form that Northshore has used to bolster support.

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WHAT CAN YOU DO? 3 Simple Ways to Advocate for the Arts

National Assembly of States Arts Agencies  (NASAA Website) recommends these three simple ways to advocate for the arts  
A. Be positive with those who control purse strings….never, ever burn your bridges! Always begin the conversation with a compliment.
B. Extend an Invitation to an Arts event at your school. When they attend, acknowledge their presence; ask them to speak.
C. Give Credit. Thank them. Take a photo they and you can display or share on social media.

HELP SHAPE POLICY TO SUPPORT ART EDUCATION

Help shape policy locally, state-wide, and beyond. You Can Shape Policy provides advocacy action recommendations along with useful advocacy dos and don'ts. Use above link or https://nasaa-arts.org/nasaa_advocacy/you-shape-policy/

FIVE ESSENTIAL ARTS ARGUMENTS

NASAA - National Assembly of States Arts Agencies provides additional facts with each statement that are reinforced by research and America For the Arts. Five Essential Arts Arguments  

1. The Arts enrich the American Economy
2. The Arts offer solutions for rural America
3. The Arts offer cost-effective health treatments that work
4. The Arts offer a net gain for government

FACT vs FICTION: GOVERNMENT ARTS FUNDING

The ARTS provide more revenue, $730 billion GDP, which is larger than Construction, Transportation, and Travel & Tourism industries yet receive very little government funds. Washington state ranks 46th in state support of the ARTs... see stats @ https://nasaa-arts.org/research/funding/
​Fact vs. Fiction on Government Funding

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
Contact your WA Legislators

Contact your local Washington State Legislators about educational ARTS concerns.
Use this site http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder to determine your legislative and congressional districts.
​This site, http://www.leg.wa.gov ,also includes maps, photos and contact information on all legislators, committee assignments, bill information, and voting records.