H.B. 325 Enrolled

FINE ARTS CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
2000 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Evan L. Olsen
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; CREATING AN ARTS IN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS PILOT PROGRAM TO DETERMINE IF A SEQUENTIAL ONGOING ARTS
PROGRAM IN THE STATE'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS CAN IMPROVE THE OVERALL
EXCELLENCE AND SCHOLARSHIP OF STUDENTS; PROVIDING COMPONENTS FOR
THE PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR A PREASSESSMENT AND ANNUAL EVALUATIONS;
PROVIDING A REPEALER; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
63-55b-153, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 21 and last amended by Chapter 366,
Laws of Utah 1999
ENACTS:
53A-15-901, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 53A-15-901 is enacted to read:
Part 9. Fine Arts Curriculum Pilot Program
53A-15-901. Arts in Elementary Schools Pilot Program -- Components -- Funding --
Evaluation.
(1) There is created an Arts in Elementary Schools Pilot Program to determine if a
sequential ongoing arts program in the state's public elementary schools can improve the overall
excellence and scholarship of students at the elementary school level.
(2) (a) The State Board of Education, through the state superintendent of public
instruction, may select a pilot school district in an urban area as well as individual schools in urban
and rural areas for the pilot program.
(b) The number of elementary schools participating in the pilot program may not exceed
12.

(c) Participation in the program is on a voluntary basis.
(d) The board selections shall represent diverse economic and cultural groupings and include
networks of two or more elementary schools that feed students into the same middle or junior high
school.
(3) The State Board of Education shall structure the pilot program to include at least the
following components:
(a) the first year of the program shall focus on planning and preparation for implementation
of the program for the school year beginning in 2001, to include the selection and training of art
specialists, the acquisition of required hardware, software, and other essential materials, a full set of
curriculum for each classroom, and a preassessment of the participating pilot classes;
(b) in the second year of the pilot program, music, visual art, and dance instruction shall take
place in grades kindergarten through three, and theater instruction shall take place in grades four
through six;
(c) each subsequent year, the music, visual art, and dance instruction program shall expand
upward by one grade level and the theater instruction program shall expand downward by one grade
level so that in the fifth year of the pilot program music, visual art, dance, and theater instruction shall
take place at all levels in grades kindergarten through six; and
(d) the music, art, dance, and theater classes shall be held for a minimum of 60 minutes each
week for each classroom and could be broken into 30-minute segments or similar time blocks, with
the classroom teacher participating side-by-side with the art specialist to enable the teacher to further
integrate the process and concepts into other curriculum.
(4) (a) The pilot program shall be evaluated on an annual basis in the following areas:
(i) student test scores;
(ii) student behavior;
(iii) attitudes of students and teachers about the program and school in general;
(iv) the methodology of inservice;
(v) the effect of technology in relation to different learning styles;
(vi) the effect of the program on the local community, to include parental involvement at the

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school;
(vii) integration with other academic disciplines, to include reading, math, and science; and
(viii) the increase in music, art, dance, and theater skills.
(b) The evaluation shall be reported to the State Board of Education and the Legislature's
Education Interim Committee prior to November 30 of each year.
(5) (a) The Legislature shall provide an appropriation to help implement the pilot program
authorized under this part.
(b) Participant schools are encouraged to supplement their allocation with monies they may
have access to under other programs authorized in Title 53A, such as experimental and developmental
programs, incentives for excellence, and the School LAND Trust Program.
(c) (i) The selected school district and individual schools may solicit contributions from and
enter into partnerships with private businesses and foundations established to develop fine arts
education for children.
(ii) It is anticipated that in its first year the pilot program will be funded with a
dollar-for-dollar match from the private sector and that the evaluation component and training
elements shall be provided from the private sector either through donations or in-kind services.
Section 2. Section 63-55b-153 is amended to read:
63-55b-153. Repeal dates -- Titles 53 and 53A.
(1) Subsection 53-5-710 (4) pertaining to restrictions at Olympic venue secure areas is
repealed April 1, 2002.
(2) Title 53, Chapter 12, State Olympic Public Safety Command Act, is repealed July 1,
2002.
(3) Section 53-12-301.1 is repealed April 1, 2002.
(4) Section 53A-1-403.5 is repealed July 1, 2007.
(5) Section 53A-15-901 is repealed July 1, 2005.
Section 3. Effective date.
This act takes effect on July 1, 2000.

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