Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state, and authorizes school districts and other local educational agencies to provide instruction to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law requires the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, and grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to include, among other subjects, visual and performing arts.

Existing law required, on or before July 1, 2014, the governing boards of school districts and county boards of education to adopt a local control and accountability plan using a template adopted by the State Board of Education. Existing law requires the local control and accountability plan to include, among other things, a description of annual goals for all pupils and specified subgroups of pupils to be achieved for certain state priorities, including the extent to which pupils have access to, and are enrolled in, a broad course of study that includes specified subject areas, including visual and performing arts. Existing law requires the governing board of each school district and each county board of education to update its local control and accountability plan before July 1 of each year.

This bill would require the State Department of Education to establish a statewide program to provide professional development training to assist school districts and county boards of education with offering instruction in visual and performing arts and with including information about courses offered in visual and performing arts in a local control and accountability plan or annual update to a local control and accountability plan.