In a report recently released. The dominant economy in Southern California is now creativity. The question to the California educational system is: "Are students being prepared for this new economy?"
The big push for California schools was, and continues to be, meeting some basic needs of students. The first needs were safe schools, accessibility upgrades, accommodating high growth, etc. Facilitating arts education was perhaps viewed as a secondary concern. This report may be an instigation to changing that point of view.
In addition to conventional schools adapting to a renewed arts focus, there are Charter Schools springing up with project-based learning as a core value. Art Center College of Design is launching their LA Design High School, and we have the Los Angeles County School of the Arts. In the Public Schools there are tremendous examples of schools and teachers that have sponsored great programs in the arts.
In addition to needing more teachers who can teach arts-base programs, schools need updated facilities. The performing and visual arts continue to be inadequately housed...perhaps this report will incite change.
