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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Campos

DATE TYPED 1/21/05

HB

SHORT TITLE Arts Education for Schools and Teachers

SB 4

ANALYST Chabot

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$3,400.0

$4.7 Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 4 appropriates $3.4 million from the general fund to the Public Education Depart-

ment (PED) for the purpose of implementing arts education in public schools ($3 million) and

providing professional development in arts education for teachers ($400 thousand).

Significant Issues

The Fine Arts Education Act passed in 2003, established elementary art education in public

schools. It added elementary arts education cost differential factors to the Public School Finance

Act (known as the funding formula) of 0.0166 for FY04, 0.0332 for FY05, and 0.05 for FY06

per full-time equivalent MEM (total enrollment of qualified students). The Legislature provided

$4 million each year for FY04 and FY05 in a phased approached to fund the requirement. PED

decided, based upon its general counsel recommendation, to offer funding to all districts in FY05

and included the requirement in determining the unit value. For the 2004-05 school year, 87 of

the 89 school districts submitted applications for qualifying programs. The FY06 LFC recom-

mendation includes $2.5 million to fund programs in the two remaining districts and for schools

Senate Bill 4 -- Page 2

who had not established programs.

PED states the arts make unique contributions to culture, society and the lives of individuals.

This legislation will provide an opportunity to strengthen existing public schools arts education

programs, particularly in small school districts, by integrating the arts across the curriculum,

strengthening arts instruction and enhancing academics through creating, performing and re-

sponding to the arts. Programs can be designed to assist students in developing self-esteem, lit-

eracy in language of the arts and awareness of peoples’ similarities and differences.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

According to hearing before LESC, the National Arts Education Association reports the findings

of a comprehensive study by Harvard University including evidence of a relationship between

classroom drama and a variety of verbal skills, including oral understanding, reading readiness,

reading achievement and writing. The National Association of State Boards of Education

(NASBE) asserts students who actively engage in the arts outperform those who do not on al-

most every measure.

According to PED, the federal No Child Left Behind Act gives arts equal recognition across the

curriculum with mathematics, science, languages, civics, government, economics, history and

geography. This appropriation would support that requirement.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $3.4 million contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert

to the general fund.

Assuming a statutory change that would keep the weighting factor at -6332, The LFC recom-

mended a funding level of $2.5 million for FY06.

The LFC FY06 appropriation recommendation is balanced between revenues and expenditures

and any increase in recurring funding must be offset by reductions in other areas of the recom-

mendation. The Legislature must consider all priorities and funding requirements to find reve-

nue to support this legislation.

PED estimates a cost of $4.7 thousand to implement the program.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

PED will have to include arts education in teacher professional development programs.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The appropriation in lines 15 and 16 of $3 million should be made to the State Equalization

Guarantee rather than PED so it will flow to school districts through the funding formula.

Senate Bill 4 -- Page 3

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

The elementary fine arts program will continue as currently funded under the Fine Arts Educa-

tion Act.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1.

Is the intent to expand the fine arts program beyond elementary schools.

2.

What is to be included in the fine arts professional development program for teachers.

GAC/lg:yr