Bills aim to ensure arts in school are not just for well-off districts | Opinion
David Neves is the advocacy co-chair for the Rhode Island Music Education Association, coordinator of music education for the University of Rhode Island, and director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensembles.
In March, the Rhode Island Music Education Association presented the 84th Annual All-State Music Festival. In six concerts, 887 music students showcased their musical achievements. These students, selected by audition, represented almost every community in our state. Achieving All-State status was the result of years of instruction by music teachers in their schools.
Unfortunately, the All-State Festival also provided disturbing evidence of a huge equity issue involving arts education, and music in particular. Despite more than two decades of Rhode Island requiring every child to be proficient in the arts before graduation, many schools are still not providing sufficient access to achieve this. As a result, becoming proficient in the arts, especially music, is a case of the “haves” and the “have-nots,” based primarily on where a child lives.
Let’s use All-State as one example. Providence’s 22,000 students represent 17% of Rhode Island’s 131,000 students. Only 20 Providence students, or 2% of the 887 All-Staters, were in All-State. If things were equal, there should have been about 120 Providence All-Staters! There were also other school districts with few or no students in All-State.
The reality is that far too many schools in our state are not giving students access to the same comprehensive music education as the schools in Barrington, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, Cranston, and the like. This equity issue is also hidden, as most of the “have-nots” are unaware of what they are missing. Though the Rhode Island Department of Education deserves credit for keeping an arts requirement, and voices support for the arts, RIDE has not invested the resources to support, monitor and ensure all districts are providing arts access for all students.
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There is a solution: The Transparency in Arts Education Access and Proficiency Act (TAAPA) introduced by Rep. Jon Brien (H 7020) and Sen. Pam Lauria (S 2042) and sponsored by many others. TAAPA does not add any new mandates or expand current regulations. It merely requires that RIDE provide more visibility to the current arts proficiency graduation regulation by:
∎ Enabling parents and communities to easily see the status of their district’s arts programs by publicizing accurate data regarding arts courses and enrollment in middle and high schools;
∎ Checking proficiency levels of samples of graduating seniors' arts work to assess arts program effectiveness;
∎ Continuing the position of arts curriculum coordinator on the RIDE staff to assist schools in arts curriculum and professional development. The intention to terminate this position in September will exacerbate arts inequities and send the message that the arts are not vital for every child.
Passing TAAPA will also remind local leaders that when financial constraints arise or school schedules are reimagined, arts classes must be maintained. As Representative Brien indicates, “Unfortunately when there are cuts made to educational programs due to financial shortfalls, it seems as though it is always the fine arts that are the first on the chopping block. That is unfair to the kids that we are elected to represent. This legislation will ensure that students are proficient in the fine arts. That is the least we can do for our children who rely on these important resources.”
The House and Senate Education Committee testimony about these TAAPA bills was overwhelmingly positive. All who value the arts need to ask their legislators to approve TAAPA this year. To ensure that all students have an equitable education, find their own unique voice through the arts, have daily arts experiences that raise attendance, are able to enroll in arts programs in college, and explore careers in the multi-billion-dollar creative economy, TAAPA must be passed. Rhode Island students deserve nothing less.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI requires every child to be proficient in the arts before graduation, but many schools are not providing sufficient access for this.
