School boards cut fine arts programs because they believe it is the easy way out of a financial crisis. At an earlier time, it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to drive through any community without passing one of the gigantic, student-created displays for the local middle school play or attending some parade or festival unaccompanied by the pulsating rhythms of the high school band. Cutting arts programs equalizes the playing field. Most states, including Oklahoma, find that it is the rural locations and low-income facilities that are impacted the most by budget cuts to this subject. Taylor said it’s common for schools to charge students hundreds of dollars a year, which can pay for everything from art supplies and instruments to fine arts teachers’ salaries. Some teachers are trying to implement new classes in their free time, but up to 30% of students are now attending classes at a place where there is no access to the arts. Because it may receive less “flak” from the community by cutting fine arts programs, this may seem like an easy solution when dollars need to be cut; however, this is an inappropriate reason for cutting a program. Learning how to read music or paint in a specific way is just like learning a new language. Most students choose to take something else. A 2014 University of Arkansas study found young people who were exposed to the arts were more tolerant and empathetic. Arts programs contribute to higher levels of economic growth. Giving kids an opportunity to escape into a creative world while at school, even if it is for just a few moments, may offer a lifetime of benefits that is worth considering. “When we look at fine arts programs across the state, we see that rural schools and low-income schools are being affected the most by these budget cuts,” she said. When you can respond quickly to the idea of cuts with critical pros and cons like these, then there is a better opportunity to save the plan. 1. Dance, music and theater programs may make frequent appearances on school budget-cut lists, but eliminating the performing arts from education could have costly effects for students. Art, they say, is great for kids. It gives them an opportunity to embrace different traditions and cultures. That means you’re multiplying the $150,000 by 5, and that becomes an unwieldy number for most districts. The arts face being squeezed out of schools by a focus on a narrowing range of core subjects. Arts classes can serve as a form of inspiration for students. School budget cuts are wiping out entire departments, with art classes and programs for at-risk students disappearing fastest, the Daily News has learned. Art, they say, is great for kids. In some schools, this resulted in portions of arts programs being completely cut, because of the perceived need to save money and use it to raise test scores. As school districts are facing massive budget cuts across the country, school programs, teachers and students are taking the hit. This outcome corresponds with other research that shows students that have consistent access to the arts have lower dropout rates from school. Because of this, many schools reroute funding from the arts programs to core subjects like math and english classes. There is a real money factor to consider when looking at an arts program and the benefits that happen by cutting it. Spread the loveAs schools look for ways to slash their budgets, it’s become en vogue to treat art programs as disposable. A study produced by the University of Arkansas in 2014 found that young people who receive exposure to creative classroom environments have more tolerance and empathy for those around them. Fortunately, however, this trend has reversed somewhat, and school districts are once again developing thriving fine and performing arts programs. Rhonda Taylor, the director of visual and performing arts for OKCPS, said schools lost nearly 100 programs across the district. It also widens the gap between the wealthy institutions and the poor ones. Many schools today are cutting back or eliminating their art programs due to budget constraints. In an economic downturn, cuts to arts programs are often a quick consideration to budget makers in public schools. Art and music programs help keep them in school, make them more committed, enhance collaboration, strengthen ties to the community and to peers, improve motor and spatial and language skills. A 2009 report conducted by the Center for Arts Education noted that schools with solid arts programs had higher graduation rates. Anyone who has ever seen a powerful play or admired a painting of transcendent beauty shouldn't have to be convinced that arts matter. The average annual program budget for art classes in the United States at public schools is around $150,000. In light of the proposed cuts to arts programs in the 2018 budget, let’s take a minute to reflect on the benefits of public arts programs and what we stand to lose if the budget is approved. This proactive option will let you provide the first steps to approach the people who have the most influence on the school budget. Most colleges are going to look at a child’s grades, athletic achievements, club activities, and extracurricular work to determine their merits for entry. ‘Cutting arts and music programs is worth the savings’: Sarcastic new #SaidNoSchoolEver ad campaign There’s a new ad campaign that is sarcastic but funny and reflects something real: many public schools and teachers don’t nearly enough resources. One of the primary reasons why our society today may be more intolerant and polarized than ever before is because there are fewer fine arts classes available. Then they took them to museums in smaller Norman. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. As the demands and requirements for high school students are shifted towards core classes, such as English, math, and science, high schools across the country are losing money and funds for elective courses. Some communities even see no value in arts to the workforce or a person’s education. That means each student who can attend these classes instead of going to a correctional facility can save a community at least $36,000 per year. Lauren Schuetz started this petition to Global Partnership for Education. “Over the years of teaching, I’ve noticed it’s the students that do not excel in academic classes that really do well in art. This advantage is not always looked at in positive ways, but it does stop the problem of having larger districts providing more opportunities to students than the smaller ones. Unless a student plans to pursue an undergraduate degree or higher in an artistic field, taking classes in this creative subject at the high school level or below is not mandatory. “We cannot rely on student fees at all,” she said. Arts and music programs also help students to perform better academically. One of the reasons why kids choose to stay when they would otherwise drop out is because the arts program provides a supportive environment to work. When rich and poor school districts are all cutting arts programs, then it creates more of an equal opportunity for students. Only a third of 8 th-graders in the western U.S. took an art class last year and only 17 percent played in the school band, the lowest figures of any region in the country, according to a recently released national arts assessment.. The very first programs to go are often disciplines such as music, art and foreign language. She was a finalist in a national in-depth radio reporting competition for an investigatory piece she produced on campus rape. “And I don’t even do that every year. This petition had 176 supporters. Posted Feb 14, 2011 All of those funds dried up. It benefits communities with low or middle incomes the most. Only a third of 8 th-graders in the western U.S. took an art class last year and only 17 percent played in the school band, the lowest figures of any region in the country, according to a recently released national arts assessment.. Creative careers are still possible in today’s world. “The students going into undergrad [teaching programs] aren’t going out to rural districts. Schools partnered with cultural organizations and institutions that provided these arts learning opportunities through before- and after-school programs, field trips, in-school …