The fourth 'R' of education: Promoting arts education in Los Angeles public schools

During a tough economic climate public schools are forced to make educational cuts due to the lack of governmental funding. Unfortunately for the arts education programs, they are usually the first to go in times of financial instability. In the past decade, Los Angeles County has launched various advocacy groups and created a comprehensive arts education blueprint with hopes of successfully rebuilding the deteriorating arts programs in its 81 school districts; however, the latest economic crisis is threatening the stability of arts education in Los Angeles once again.;In the following thesis you will find: (1) An overview of the negative affects of the No Child Left Behind Act. (2) An overview of the importance of arts education in elementary schools. (3) A review of California's arts education standards and how it conflicts with the current budget crisis. (4) An in-depth overview of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission's Arts for All: Los Angeles County Blueprint for Arts Education. (5) Examples of support provided by advocacy groups such as Arts for LA and the Burbank Arts Education Foundation. (6) A list of best practices to consider when developing a public relations campaign to raise community awareness and funds for arts education in any community.