Res. No. 506
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign, A.8763-A/S.7242 legislation that would establish a task force on arts and music education in elementary and secondary schools to study and make recommendations on the curriculum and funds spent on arts and music education in the New York State elementary and secondary school system.
By Council Members Rose, Chin, Eugene, Gentile, Gibson, Mendez, Rosenthal and Rodriguez
Whereas, According to a 2012 report prepared by the College Board for the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards, research initiatives of the past decade have linked arts participation to cognitive growth and academic skills, including the strengthening of long-term memory and reading ability, creative thinking skills, and writing fluency; and
Whereas, Additionally, they further state that arts education has been linked to positive social outcomes including overall engagement in school, increased graduation rates and increased community engagement; and
Whereas, Current New York State Education Law requires that students in grades 7-12 receive core arts instruction taught by certified teachers; and
Whereas, A recent report issued by the New York City Comptroller's office indicates that arts education in New York City's public schools has become both inequitable and underfunded; and
Whereas, According to the report, figures from the New York City Department of Education's (DOE) Annual Arts in Schools Reports show a 47 percent decline in spending to hire arts and cultural organizations to provide educational services for students; and
Whereas, Furthermore, according to the Comptroller's findings, although schools have had access to "supplemental arts funding" intended for arts education, many schools have opted to divert these funds to non-arts related areas and is disproportionally affecting schools in lower income areas; and
Whereas, A.8763-A/S.7242 introduced by Assembly Member Matthew Titone and State Senator Tony Avella would establish a task force on arts and music education in elementary and secondary schools; and
Whereas, The legislation would call for the creation of the task force to investigate and advise the governor and the state legislature on the current curriculum relating to music and the arts and what, if any, steps should be taken to alter such curriculum or increase the time devoted to such activities; and
Whereas, A.8763-A/S.7242 would also call for the task force to be comprised of eleven members including one representative from the Board of Regents and one member appointed respectively by the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York State School Music Association, the New York State Art Teachers Association and the New York State School Boards Association; and
Whereas, Remaining task force members would be appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly and four members appointed by the governor, all of whom would have experience in various faces of education and/or behavioral science; and
Whereas, The Legislation would also state that no compensation be provided to members of the task force for their services and also call for the task force to be provided certain resources to enable them to carry out its powers; and
Whereas, The task force would have 18 months to complete its research and present its findings and recommendations to the governor, Board of Regents, Temporary President of the Senate, Speaker of the Assembly and to the minority leaders of both the Senate and Assembly; and
Whereas, According to the DOE's own website, the arts education goal for the New York City is to "provide all public school students with universal access to a high quality arts education"; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign, A.8763-A/S.7242 legislation that would establish a task force on arts and music education in elementary and secondary schools to study and make recommendations on the curriculum and funds spent on arts and music education in the New York State elementary and secondary school system.
LS 1903
11/19/14
JP