Proposition 28: How Teacher Residencies Can Foster High-Quality Arts Educators
By Drs. Jacquelyn Ollison and Kate Herman
In our previous October blog post, we introduced the Residency Lab’s (TRLs) unique positionality with generous support from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in exploring how residency programs in California can effectively train arts teachers, as stipulated by Proposition 28. This month, we take a deeper dive into the resources available to aid in the planning process for local education agencies (LEAs) and institutions of higher education (IHEs)
What is Proposition 28? How does it change art education in CA?
Proposition 28 addresses the longstanding need for funding arts education in California schools, allocating approximately $1 billion from the state’s general fund to schools statewide. The proposition’s primary objective is to establish ongoing arts instruction and enhance access to high-quality arts teachers. Under Proposition 28, LEAs are required to allocate 80% of the funds towards hiring certificated or classified employees to provide arts education, with the remaining funds designated for training, supplies, materials, and arts educational partnership programs. This is crucial given that currently only 1 in 5 California public schools have full-time arts or music teachers.
While some groups of professional artists expressed concerns that Proposition 28 would increase the recruitment of professional artists to the classroom without providing the pedagogical support or training, California’s educational landscape provides avenues to support its implementation. LEAs should consider establishing teacher residencies focused on developing Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) teachers as a sustainable solution; the Commission of Teacher Credential (CTC) and The Residency Lab have support in place to help districts interested in pursuing this option.
California’s Residency Grant Program
The CTC offers competitive teacher residency grants to support collaborative partnerships between eligible Local Education Agencies (LEAs) or consortia of LEAs and Commission-approved educator preparation programs at accredited higher education institutions (IHEs). These grants aim to expand, strengthen, or establish teacher residency programs.
LEAs can leverage the teacher residency grant program to either expand existing teacher residency programs (with an implementation and expansion grant) or develop a new teacher residency program (with a teacher residency capacity grant) to expand their pipeline of highly qualified diverse VAPA teachers and support their development of sustainable arts education programs. The Teacher Residency Capacity and the Teacher Residency Implementation and Expansion request for applications (RFAs) are now closed. We anticipate a new RFAs for funding will be released in early fall 2024 and will announce when the application cycles open.
Teacher Residency Capacity Grant Program
- Provides planning grant awards up to $250,000 per applicant to support a collaborative LEA and IHE to expand, strengthen, improve access to, or create teacher residency programs.
Teacher Residency Implementation & Expansion Grant Programs
- The Teacher Residency Implementation and Expansion RFA is now available to provide grant awards up to $40,000 per resident for new or expanding residency programs. Commission staff have combined the implementation and expansion grant competitions into one RFA.
Funding from the teacher residency grant program can be used to establish new residency programs targeting designated shortage fields such as special education, bilingual education, computer science, STEM subjects, transitional kindergarten, or kindergarten. Additionally, funds can support local efforts in recruiting, developing support systems for, implementing outreach and communication strategies too, and retaining a diverse teacher workforce that reflects the community served by the LEA.
Where To Start
Partner Up: LEAs interested in exploring or implementing the teacher residency pathway to build their arts programming should begin by establishing a partnership with an educator preparation program with an arts education focus. LEAs may need to work with more than one IHE to include all credential areas they are interested in supporting in their residency. A list of California’s Arts and Music credential programs can be found here.
Engage with the Teacher Residency Lab’s Spring Events!
Grant Support Series: Attend our virtual CTC Teacher Residency Grant Program Application Support Series! We offer both Grant Overview Drop-Ins and Grant Writing Support Sessions. At the Grant Overview Drop-Ins, you will receive an overview of grant opportunities, deadlines, and support to prepare your resident grant application to submit to the CTC. You will receive support and resources from a Residency Lab Coach at the Grant Writing Support session. Coaching and Support are provided in a small group or one-on-one setting.
Spring Regional Meetings: Attend one of our free Spring Regional Meetings to OBSERVE, CONNECT, and ENGAGE with residency leaders and fellow educators currently involved in this work. Don’t miss out on thought-provoking discussions and dynamic presentations on cutting-edge strategies and advancements in educator preparation! Register here today!
TRL’s Annual Symposium: Attend TRL’s Annual Symposium from May 2–3, 2024 to learn more about VAPA-related work! Click here to register today!
