ADVOCACY - SB5878 - The Law on our side.

Arts for ALL.
Getting the Word Out!
WAEA supports students' right for Art Education!

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WA State Senate Bill 5878

PASSED in 2022.

How is it being implemented in your local area?

​It is on our shoulders to ensure the law is followed.
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WHAT IS IT and WHAT CAN YOU DO? 

​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 2022!

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!

   

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Above is a quick list of points to drive home. The "unfunded mandate" cry is already starting from administrators and probably presents the biggest danger to this bill's passage. Really pound the fact that this is NOT another unfunded mandate--This is core and basic education and as such, is the stuff which taxpayer funds are supposed to go to FIRST! It has always been funded--our administrators have simply mismanaged taxpayer funds and intentionally marginalized the Arts. There is no hierarchy of "core-ness" among the core subjects. Arts are not extra ---they get funded along with the other core subjects.

We've got this, WAEA Family! Let's work together to get this important LAW followed around the STATE!

In Summary, Senate Bill 5878 is: 

• The state will require that all public school students get "regular instruction" in a visual or performing art, at least one class THROUGHOUT their K-8 education and the classes must be offered all school year. 

 

• Students in 9th - 12th grade must be offered a visual or performing arts class each year. The class must be offered during the regular school day, and cannot be waived except for special education requirements.

 

• Schools can use existing teachers or hire new ones for the explicit purpose of teaching the visual or performing arts. 

​WHAT IS THE PROCESS? 


How do you ensure that this law is being followed?

1- Make sure your school board is aware of the law.
2- Make sure your superintendent is aware of the law.
3-Make sure your admin is aware of the law and what it means for your school.

4-Present to the local Parent Groups to make sure they know the law is there to protect arts instruction.

5- Organize and speak at school board meetings if the law is not being followed.