Why do we need a citywide Arts Learning Collaborative?
Research shows that arts instruction helps kids to be successful in school and in life. There is already a lot of learning through the arts happening in schools. However, access to arts education varies from school to school and there is no continuity as students move up through the grade levels. The collaborative will bolster what's already happening, close the access gap and create continuity from year to year. This will set our students up for success in school and in life.
Responding to what we have learned from community and youth focus groups and research on current access to arts in
SPS schools, the plan will take a four-pronged approach:
• Regional staffing strategy
• Supported by robust curriculum and assessments
• Emphasis on 21 st Century skills and culturally responsive instruction.
• Scheduling and Facilities that support arts learning
• Creation of an arts culture in each school.
• Supported by professional development from community partners .
• Supported with technical assistance to develop an arts plan and coordinated approach to arts learning.
Students experiencing the arts
• Professional Development for teachers.
• Provided and/or supported by community partners and teachers
• Direct service from community partners and teachers to broaden experiences and ensure culturally relevant instruction.
• Regular and on-going exposure to arts events .
• Connection to careers through Arts Skills
Centers.
• Showcases of student artwork and performances.
• Coordinated approach to partnerships.
This approach will be supported by ongoing research, robust curriculum, instruction, and assessment, as well as multitiered professional development for arts specialists, classroom teachers, school leaders and community partners. The plan will also include a strategy for improving central office practice and systems to better support access to quality arts learning.
The final plan will also include a funding strategy that recognizes that support must be a combined effort among the
District, the City of Seattle, and local and national funders.
Creating a sustainable and equitable city-wide arts plan is admittedly not an easy task. Fortunately, we have the building blocks in place to be successful: committed schools, motivated staff and families, an engaged funding community, and dedicated partners.
Contact Us
For updates, please visit the project page on the SPS website: http://bit.ly/SPSartsplan
For questions or comments, please email ( akquerns@seattleschools.org
) or call (206-252-0782) project manager, Audrey Querns .

The Wallace Foundation
– Funder for the planning phase who has worked with cities around the country to successfully create comprehensive arts plans and increase students’ access to arts learning.
SPS Arts Educators - Leading development of tools and resources to support students’ learning in the arts.
Arts Corps - Designing an arts learning assessment tool that incorporates 21 st Century Skills.
ArtsEd Washington – Facilitating school leaders’ designing their own professional development for arts leadership.
Arts Impact
– Developing a scalable model for K-5 integrated arts professional development.
Seattle Art Museum
– Developing a framework and identifying support tools to strengthen the partnerships between schools and community arts organizations.
Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs – Coordinating public outreach and participating in project governance.
PONCHO
– Collaborating on a local funding strategy.
Laying the
Groundwork
Jun-Dec., 2011
•SPS accepts the Arts Learning Initiative Planning Grant from the Wallace Foundation.
•SPS contracts with community Arts partners to lead strands of work and with consulting partners for project management, program evaluation, and communications.
•SPS Arts curriculum teacher-leaders begin designing a system of tools and resources to support arts instruction and learning.
Needs Assessment
Jan-Jun, 2012
•District-wide Arts Access survey and analysis – Surveys of school leaders, arts teachers, general classroom teachers to establish baseline data and report on the distribution of quality Arts learning in SPS. (Results on http://bit.ly/SPSartsplan)
•Four city-wide Public and Four Youth Engagement Meetings to gather input from the community on the current state of Arts education as well as aspirations for the future. (Results on http://bit.ly/SPSartsplan)
•Survey and focus groups of community Arts organizations to gather access data and input to develop a framework and tools to support organizations, teaching artists, and schools in aligning their work to increase student learning. (Results on http://bit.ly/SPSartsplan)
Defining & Testing
Strategies
Jan-Nov. 2012
•School Arts leader action plan developed (Feb-June)
•New Arts curriculum and assessment tools tested in classrooms (Sept-June)
•Arts Integration standards and models developed (July-Sept)
•Community Partnerships framework developed (Jun-Sept)
•Local Funding Task Force created (Jun-Sept)
•September 27, 2012: Public Meeting: Creating Innovators: An Update on the Seattle K-12 Arts Learning Collaborative
Plan Approval
Dec, 2012-Feb, 2013
•Dec. 3, 2012: Draft Arts Plan submitted to Executive Committee & Superintendent for review
•Dec. 16, 2012: Draft Arts Plan submitted to Wallace Foundation
•Jan. 31, 2013: Final Arts Plan due to the Wallace Foundation
•Feb, 2013: Public presentation of Arts Plan

8 Ways to Advocate for Arts:
1. Attend a performance or art walk at your neighborhood school.
2. Volunteer in your child’s class during art lessons.
3. Contact your City Council and Mayor to make sure that your taxes support arts education.
4. Hang student art in your home and community.
5. Ask your principal, “What’s the plan for arts?”
6. Share your perspectives on on-line forums.
7. Be knowledgeable about the BEX IV levy and vote in February.
8. Let your school board member know that arts are part of a good education.
Contacts:
Courtney Cameron, Manager of School and Community Partnerships, Seattle Public Schools cjcameron@seattleschools.org
Carri Campbell, Visual and Performing Arts Manager, Seattle Public Schools cjcampbell@seattleschools.org
Regan Pro, Manager of School & Educator Programs, Seattle Art Museum reganp@seattleartmuseum.org
Elizabeth Whitford, Executive Director, Arts Corps elizabeth.whitford@artscorps.org