| September 28 was the beginning of a new era for | | | | and each school community, no matter the |
| arts education in San Francisco schools. The San | | | | neighborhood or academic emphasis, will be called |
| Francisco Unified School district and the City are | | | | upon to embrace the notion that every student must |
| partnering on a historic effort to bring back the arts for | | | | be provided with the arts as an integral part of the |
| all students. The Arts Education Master Plan will | | | | academic day. |
| revitalize the education of San Francisco's young | | | | Interim Superintendent Gwen Chan said "In San |
| citizens by capturing the diverse cultural and artistic | | | | Francisco, we are committed to providing every |
| energy of a city that is internationally renowned for its | | | | student with a well-rounded education. For too many |
| love of the arts. | | | | years, some students have not had opportunities to |
| At 10:30 a.m. at the San Francisco Performing Arts | | | | develop artistic literacy. Every school and every |
| Library and Museum, Mayor Gavin Newsom, SFUSD's | | | | student will benefit from this plan." |
| Interim Superintendent Gwen Chan, and SF Arts | | | | Community Involvement |
| Commission President P.J. Johnston joined members | | | | The Master Plan reflects the views of more than 1,500 |
| of the Board of Supervisors and SFUSD Board of | | | | students, parents, teachers, administrators, arts |
| Education, arts providers from across the city and | | | | providers, and civic and business leaders. Proposition H |
| students from Lowell High School, Claire Lilienthal and | | | | approved by San Francisco voters in 2004, became |
| George Washington Carver Academic Elementary | | | | the catalyst, making the Arts Education Master Plan, |
| Schools in celebration of the Arts Education Master | | | | completed in August 2006, a funded mandate. The |
| Plan. | | | | extensive increase in arts education spending, |
| "This master plan is a living document that exemplifies | | | | programming, support and resources that the Plan |
| the partnership between the City and the school | | | | recommends will be funded largely by Prop H funds. |
| district on arts education," said Mayor Newsom. "San | | | | Additional funding, such as the new State funding for |
| Francisco's efforts are unprecedented - and over the | | | | the arts, will be aligned to the Arts Education Master |
| next few months, we will witness 'order of magnitude' | | | | Plan. |
| changes in the arts education that children receive," | | | | The new plan will hopefully keep San Francisco school |
| continued the Mayor. | | | | students in touch with the vibrant artistic community |
| The Arts Education Master Plan is San Francisco | | | | around them and help them to take advantage of the |
| Unified School District's blueprint for integrating the arts | | | | many enriching opportunities for art in the classroom |
| into each student's daily curriculum. The Plan calls for a | | | | and beyond. San Francisco schools are ready to |
| sequential, comprehensive arts education program that | | | | implement the new curriculum program at all levels to |
| reflects the high quality of San Francisco's artistic | | | | ensure a consistent and fulfilling learning experience for |
| landscape in the areas of dance, drama, music, visual | | | | all students. Students, parents, and teachers at San |
| arts and literary arts. | | | | Francisco schools are confident that the Arts |
| The guiding principle of this plan is that all students | | | | Education Master Plan will mark their community as |
| deserve both access to and equity in arts education | | | | one committed to continued arts education. |