H.B. 174

1

FINE ARTS CURRICULUM AMENDMENTS
2 2001 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Sheryl L. Allen
5 This act modifies provisions of the Arts in Elementary Schools Pilot Program by requiring
6 music, visual art, dance, or theater instruction to take place through the joint efforts of a
7 specialist in one of these art forms and the classroom teacher.
8 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
9 AMENDS:
10 53A-15-901, as enacted by Chapter 234, Laws of Utah 2000
11 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
12 Section 1. Section 53A-15-901 is amended to read:
13 53A-15-901. Arts in Elementary Schools Pilot Program -- Components -- Funding
14 -- Evaluation.
15 (1) There is created an Arts in Elementary Schools Pilot Program to [determine if a
16 sequential ongoing arts program in the state's public elementary schools can improve the overall
17 excellence and scholarship of students at the elementary school level] improve student
18 achievement in the K-6 music, art, dance, and drama core curricula and to identify and evaluate
19 the effect of professional development experiences on teaching practices.
20 (2) (a) The State Board of Education, through the state superintendent of public
21 instruction, may select [a] pilot school [district] districts in an urban area as well as individual
22 schools in urban and rural areas for the pilot program.
23 (b) The number of elementary schools participating in the pilot program may not exceed
24 12.
25 (c) Participation in the program is on a voluntary basis.
26 (d) The board selections shall represent diverse economic and cultural groupings and
27 include networks of two or more elementary schools that feed students into the same middle or

28 junior high school.
29 (3) The State Board of Education shall structure the pilot program to include at least the
30 following components:
31 (a) the first year of the program shall focus on planning and preparation for
32 implementation of the program for the school year beginning in 2001, to include the selection and
33 training of art specialists, the acquisition of required hardware, software, and other essential
34 materials, a full set of curriculum for each classroom, and a preassessment of the participating pilot
35 classes;
36 (b) a professional development plan that may:
37 (i) include regular and frequent ongoing inservice for all personnel involved in the pilot
38 program;
39 (ii) be built on sound educational principles and essential elements; and
40 (iii) be sensitive and responsive to local conditions;
41 [(b)] (c) in the second year of the pilot program and for each year thereafter, music, visual
42 art, [and] dance instruction [shall take place in grades kindergarten through three, and], or theater
43 instruction shall take place [in grades four through six;] through the joint efforts of a specialist in
44 one of the fine arts forms and the classroom teacher; and
45 [(c) each subsequent year, the music, visual art, and dance instruction program shall
46 expand upward by one grade level and the theater instruction program shall expand downward by
47 one grade level so that in the fifth year of the pilot program music, visual art, dance, and theater
48 instruction shall take place at all levels in grades kindergarten through six; and]
49 (d) the music, art, dance, [and] or theater classes shall be held for a minimum of 60
50 minutes each week for each classroom and could be broken into 30-minute segments or similar
51 time blocks[, with the classroom teacher participating side-by-side with the art specialist to enable
52 the teacher to further integrate the process and concepts into other curriculum].
53 (4) (a) The pilot program shall be evaluated on an annual basis in at least the following
54 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
61 at 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 or theater skills.]
65 (i) student achievement in the state K-6 music, art, dance, and drama core curricula; and
66 (ii) the effect of the professional development experience on teaching practices.
67 (b) The evaluation shall be reported to the State Board of Education and the Legislature's
68 Education Interim Committee prior to November 30 of each year.
69 (5) (a) The Legislature shall provide an appropriation to help implement the pilot program
70 authorized under this part.
71 (b) Participant schools are encouraged to supplement their allocation with monies they
72 may have access to under other programs authorized in Title 53A, such as experimental and
73 developmental programs, incentives for excellence, and the School LAND Trust Program.
74 (c) (i) The selected school district and individual schools may solicit contributions from
75 and enter into partnerships with private businesses and foundations established to develop fine arts
76 education for children.
77 (ii) It is anticipated that in its first year the pilot program will be funded with a
78 dollar-for-dollar match from the private sector and that the evaluation component and training
79 elements shall be provided from the private sector either through donations or in-kind services.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-18-01 11:46 AM

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

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel