Elimination of VAPA Consultant Position

Please take a moment to read this message from Laurie Schell, Executive Director California Alliance for Arts Education, and take action!

As part of its reorganization process, the California Department of Education has eliminated the Visual and Performing Arts Consultant position. This decision has the potential to silence the voice of arts education within the department, and may have far ranging consequences for arts education programs throughout the state.

School districts, administrators, teachers and parents depend upon the consultant to provide the information, guidance, and encouragement to pursue standards based arts education. In addition, the consultant represents the state of California in national conversations regarding arts education policy and implementation.

It is a position of strategic importance for all of us, and we must voice our opposition to the decision now and urge Superintendent O'Connell to reconsider his decision to eliminate the position. We urge you to take the time to email a letter to Superintendent O'Connell today and copy it to other staff members within the department:

Joconnell@cde.ca.gov
gpayne@cde.ca.gov
dsigman@cde.ca.gov
plafonta@cde.ca.gov
Below, a copy of the letter that the Alliance has submitted:

Dear Superintendent O'Connell:

I am writing on behalf of the California Alliance for Arts Education to express our deep concern upon hearing that the position of Visual and Performing Arts Consultant has been eliminated by the California Department of Education.

While we recognize that the Department is acting in response to the legislature's decision to provide local education agencies with flexibility to deliver categorical funding for arts education, we would point out that the VAPA Consultant position preceded the categorical funding and has existed within the CDE system for twenty three years. The position serves a critical role in the interpretation, implementation, and representation of arts education in California.

As you are aware, high school graduates are required to take one year of VAPA or foreign language. UC/CSU requires one year of VAPA to be considered as an applicant. The visual and performing arts are considered as NCLB core academic courses and require NCLB compliant teachers of instruction.

In order to respond effectively to those requirements and to maintain your longstanding commitment to arts education as an essential component of a complete education, we believe the California Department of Education must provide adequate representation for the concerns and interests of the visual and performing arts.

We strongly urge you to reinstate the full-time VAPA Consultant position in order to provide the technical support that administrators, teachers, parents, and students depend upon as part of our educational system.