LAUSD ACPN Urgent Action - Update

Submitted by Danielle Brazell on Tue, 12/30/2008 - 9:26am
TAGS:
Advocacy Team (if applicable): 
Los Angeles (USD)

The LAUSD ACPN advocacy campaign made the front page of the LA Times. The article illustrated the impact the budget freeze has on the over eighty ACPN providers.  Even though the writers misinterpreted Arts for LA's role with ACPN, they did interview the Music Center's Mark Slavkin, Jay McAdams of the 24th Street Theatre and me.  I sent a follow-up to the writers clarifying our role and thanking them for the care they took in writing the two articles.  Theyboth sent apologies and indicated that a correction would be includedin today's edition.

The Times article caught the attention of KPCC, who featured one of the LA Times writers, Jason Song, and myself on the 10:00am edition of Air Talk with Larry Mantel.  Click here to listen to the interview. 

The two stories increased awareness about this issue and activity on our petition to 620 signatures!  Our 1,000 goal is getting closer every day. If you haven't already, please take a moment to sign the petition and share how the freeze is impacting you. 

I have also received a letter from the Judy Elliott, Ph.D., LAUSD's Chief Academic Officer thanking Arts for LA for the advocacy effort.  

Your advocacy is being heard.  Every district in the State is coping with insurmountable financial challenges. Help the LAUSD identify the programs with the greatest impact.

CALL TO ACTION
Help keep this issue in the press.  The State Legislature is due back in January and the mid-year budget revisions will be decided shortly after. 

Each action reinforces the message that LAUSD's continued investment in arts education is vital.

Remember, your advocacy is powerful. You are the expect and know first hand why quality arts education is important.

More updates on this issue as it becomes available.

Onward!

Danielle

Times and Daily News articles

Submitted by steve housewright (not verified) on Wed, 12/31/2008 - 4:49am.
Danielle, Although the news articles are a bit misleading and make it appear that all public school arts funding is being cut, it did serve to fire the public up- which seldom happens. One idea might be to highlight the fact that $240 million has been spent to build High School #9, the new LA arts high school, and that cutting any arts education program funding is a tremendous squandering of these public funds. Nothing will work better than financial embarrassment with public officals in these economic stressful times.