Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program: Application Guidelines
Guidelines | Timeline | School Application | District Application
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
The Beverley Taylor Sorenson - Elementary Arts Learning Program (sponsored by Representative Greg Hughes) was passed by the Utah Legislature in the 2008 general session allocating a one-time expenditure of $15.82 million over a four-year period. Schools that participate in the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program shall partner with Utah institutions of higher education that award elementary education degrees to obtain quality pre-service training, professional development, research findings, and leadership development for arts education.
Funding will be awarded through a competitive proposal process, to enable Utah school districts and charter schools to hire qualified school-based arts education specialists in dance, drama, music or visual arts and in some cases, district arts coordinators. Proposals may also request financial support for instructional materials, art supplies, instruments, and equipment. Funds have also been appropriated to support partnerships between participating schools and Utah's teacher preparation institutions. Funding cannot be used to supplant existing programs, i.e. - POPS.
This legislation provides an opportunity over the next four years to demonstrate that academic, social, and artistic development are greatly enhanced when a qualified arts education specialist teaches side-by-side with the classroom teacher. This teaching model is endorsed by the Utah Legislature, the Utah Arts Council, and the Utah State Office of Education and is the model grant recipients will implement. Information about the side by side teaching model is included in application materials.
The long-term goal of this program is to ensure every elementary school student in Utah has access to ongoing arts education instruction and to secure ongoing funding. Achievement of goals and documentation of outcomes are essential components of this program and crucial to demonstrating measurable outcomes.
Districts/Schools must hire Arts Specialists with one of the following qualifications:
- have a bachelor's degree from a university or college in the art form they will be teaching
- teaching artist who agrees to enter the ARL (must have a degree in the art form they are teaching)
- a licensed secondary teacher with a Secondary Specialist Endorsement (6-12) in the art form, who wants to teach at the elementary level, and agrees to enter the Elementary Specialist (K-6) Endorsement Program to ultimately have a K-12 Specialist Endorsement in the art form. This is usually 6-9 hours of coursework.
- an elementary classroom teacher who can gain entrance into the Elementary Specialist (K-6) Endorsement Program (also known as Level II)
Criteria for selection of grant recipients will include factors such as:
- a long-range plan for arts education for phasing in all four art forms over five years
- history of support for arts education
- professional development in the arts for teachers and administrators
- geographic diversity
- economic and social needs
Consideration of such factors will favor inclusion of some 'exemplary' schools that are more mature in their arts programming in order to provide models of achievement for 'emerging' schools.
The terms and conditions of the contract are to:
- find and secure a qualified arts specialist
- utilize the teaching side by side with the classroom teacher model
- have the arts specialist provide arts instruction throughout the school year to all students on a weekly basis
- determine equipment, supplies and material needs for purchase and utilization
- prepare a written report on your assessment of student progress in the art form and at least one other academic discipline and other specified outcomes referred to in the application
- participate in professional development (and any other possible partnership options) with funded universities involved in research and evaluation
- provide financial accounting of program expenditures
2008 APPLICATION TIMELINE
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
School Application Forms
(Must be received by School District or Charter School Office by May 8, 2008)
District Application Forms
(Must be received by the Utah Arts Council with all school applications by May 15, 2008)
Application Criteria:
- Must use 12 pt. font
- Incomplete applications will not be considered
- Late applications will not be accepted
- Signatures must be original, not stamped
- Complete applications mailed to the Utah Arts Council must be USPS postmarked by deadline due date (District and school mail meter markings are not accepted).
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
GRANT APPLICATION WORKSHOPS
Attendance at mandatory workshops will be required of district teams and participating schools who are awarded grants. Watch for a list of workshop dates in early spring 2009.
For questions, contact Janet Wolf, Director of Arts Education Initiatives, at 801.236.7558
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