H.B. 325

1

FINE ARTS CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC
2 SCHOOLS
3 2000 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Evan L. Olsen
6 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; CREATING AN ARTS IN ELEMENTARY
7 SCHOOLS PILOT PROGRAM TO DETERMINE IF A SEQUENTIAL ONGOING ARTS
8 PROGRAM IN THE STATE'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS CAN IMPROVE THE OVERALL
9 EXCELLENCE AND SCHOLARSHIP OF STUDENTS; PROVIDING COMPONENTS FOR
10 THE PROGRAM; S [ PROVIDING A $200,000 APPROPRIATION; ] s PROVIDING FOR A
11 PREASSESSMENT AND ANNUAL EVALUATIONS; PROVIDING A REPEALER; AND
12 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
13 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
14 AMENDS:
15 63-55b-153, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 21 and last amended by Chapter 366,
16 Laws of Utah 1999
17 ENACTS:
18 53A-15-901, Utah Code Annotated 1953
19 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
20 Section 1. Section 53A-15-901 is enacted to read:
21 Part 9. Fine Arts Curriculum Pilot Program
22 53A-15-901. Arts in Elementary Schools Pilot Program -- Components -- Funding --
23 Evaluation.
24 (1) There is created an Arts in Elementary Schools Pilot Program to determine if a
25 sequential ongoing arts program in the state's public elementary schools can improve the overall
26 excellence and scholarship of students at the elementary school level.
27 (2) (a) The State Board of Education, through the state superintendent of public

28 instruction, may select a pilot school district in an urban area as well as individual schools in urban
29 and rural areas for the pilot program.
30 (b) The number of elementary schools participating in the pilot program may not exceed
31 12.
32 (c) Participation in the program is on a voluntary basis.
33 (d) The board selections shall represent diverse economic and cultural groupings and
34 include networks of two or more elementary schools that feed students into the same middle or
35 junior high school.
36 (3) The State Board of Education shall structure the pilot program to include at least the
37 following components:
38 (a) the first year of the program shall focus on planning and preparation for
39 implementation of the program for the school year beginning in 2001, to include the selection and
40 training of art specialists, the acquisition of required hardware, software, and other essential
41 materials, a full set of curriculum for each classroom, and a preassessment of the participating pilot
42 classes;
43 (b) in the second year of the pilot program, music, visual art, and dance instruction shall
44 take place in grades kindergarten through three, and theater instruction shall take place in grades
45 four through six;
46 (c) each subsequent year, the music, visual art, and dance instruction program shall expand
47 upward by one grade level and the theater instruction program shall expand downward by one
48 grade level so that in the fifth year of the pilot program music, visual art, dance, and theater
49 instruction shall take place at all levels in grades kindergarten through six; and
50 (d) the music, art, dance, and theater classes shall be held for a minimum of 60 minutes
51 each week for each classroom and could be broken into 30-minute segments or similar time blocks,
52 with the classroom teacher participating side-by-side with the art specialist to enable the teacher
53 to further integrate the process and concepts into other curriculum.
54 (4) (a) The pilot program shall be evaluated on an annual basis in the following areas:
55 (i) student test scores;
56 (ii) student behavior;
57 (iii) attitudes of students and teachers about the program and school in general;
58 (iv) the methodology of inservice;

59 (v) the effect of technology in relation to different learning styles;
60 (vi) the effect of the program on the local community, to include parental involvement at
61 the school;
62 (vii) integration with other academic disciplines, to include reading, math, and science;
63 and
64 (viii) the increase in music, art, dance, and theater skills.
65 (b) The evaluation shall be reported to the State Board of Education and the Legislature's
66 Education Interim Committee prior to November 30 of each year.
67 (5) (a) S [ For fiscal year 2000-01 there is appropriated from the Uniform School Fund to the
68 State Board of Education $200,000 ] THE LEGISLATURE SHALL PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATION s to
68a help implement the pilot program authorized under this part.
69 (b) Participant schools are encouraged to supplement their allocation with monies they
70 may have access to under other programs authorized in Title 53A, such as experimental and
71 developmental programs, incentives for excellence, and the School LAND Trust Program.
72 (c) (i) The selected school district and individual schools may solicit contributions from
73 and enter into partnerships with private businesses and foundations established to develop fine arts
74 education for children.
75 (ii) It is anticipated that h IN ITS FIRST YEAR h the pilot program will be funded with a
75a dollar-for-dollar match
76 from the private sector and that the evaluation component and training elements shall be provided
77 from the private sector either through donations or in-kind services.
78 Section 2. Section 63-55b-153 is amended to read:
79 63-55b-153. Repeal dates -- Titles 53 and 53A.
80 (1) Subsection 53-5-710 (4) pertaining to restrictions at Olympic venue secure areas is
81 repealed April 1, 2002.
82 (2) Title 53, Chapter 12, State Olympic Public Safety Command Act, is repealed July 1,
83 2002.
84 (3) Section 53-12-301.1 is repealed April 1, 2002.
85 (4) Section 53A-1-403.5 is repealed July 1, 2007.
86 (5) Section 53A-15-901 is repealed July 1, 2005.
87 Section 3. Effective date.
88 This act takes effect on July 1, 2000.

Legislative Review Note
as of 2-9-00 11:41 AM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel