HCPS FL Logo Curriculum and Instruction
Action Item
DATE: Tuesday, August 12, 2014
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve Renewal Agreement for Technical Services with the Arts Council of Hillsborough County for the 2014/2015 Artists-in-the-Schools Program (Curriculum and Instruction)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Artists-in-the-Schools Program employs and trains over 100 professional artists and touring companies to offer workshops and performances in theatre, dance, music, media, visual arts, and poetry at every regular, exceptional, magnet, Ed-Venture, and alternative school site.  In addition, instructional programs in the arts for teachers and administrators are provided, along with a wide array of performing arts field trip performances at venues throughout the Tampa Bay area.  Hillsborough County’s Artists-in-the-Schools Program, a nationally recognized program in our district for over 40 years, is used as an arts in education model by many school districts throughout the nation.

Years of study have shown that students of the arts continue to outperform their non-arts peers on college entrance exams.  In addition, it is our responsibility to prepare our students for success in the workforce, Florida is now number three in the nation for tech industry jobs – jobs requiring skills that mirror those derived from an arts education.

For these reasons and many more, the mission of the program is to infuse and integrate the arts into every student's day. During the 2013/2014 school year, 103,285 students, parents, and teachers participated in 1,010 arts experiences and field trip performances, presented by performing companies and individual artists in 181 K-12 regular, exceptional, magnet, Ed-Venture, and alternative school sites, and 10 performing arts venues. This comprehensive program is funded jointly by the district and the Arts Council.  Matching funds for these in-school programs are provided through grants, fees, and donations made by individual organizations.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Motivate students to become responsible learners
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Funds of $156,332 are included in the divisional fixed budgets.
EVALUATION
Teachers complete a survey after Artists-in-the-Schools performances to evaluate quality of performances and relevance to curriculum.  Evaluators are contracted to view and evaluate performances to ensure a high quality experience for students.
SUBMITTED BY:  Barbara B. Hancock, Instructional Leadership Director, Elementary
Melanie Faulkner, Supervisor, Elementary Music
Wynne A. Tye   Gretchen Saunders
Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction
(813) 272-4221		   Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
    A 6.05
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20140812_638 (Board Meeting) * Section A Item# 6.05