The Boston Public Schools Arts Planning Initiative: Supporting a Visionary Superintendent Through Collaboration, Data Collection, and Ongoing Coordination

Tuesday, October 20, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Organized by Janna Schwartz, senior program officer, Hunt Alternatives Fund.

Presented by Janna Schwartz; Dr. Carol Johnson, superintendent, Boston Public Schools; Julia Gittleman, principal, Mendelsohn, Gittleman & Associates, LLC.

Boston Public Schools Superintendent Carol Johnson has championed arts education since her arrival in August 2007. A small group of funders came together to support her in launching the BPS Arts Expansion Initiative. The first phase of the process included a comprehensive inventory of arts offerings to identify gaps, resources, and models to expand arts delivery more equitably and consistently across the district and the launch of the BPS Arts Expansion Fund. Join us in discussing how funders are collaborating to support a champion policy shaper, and hear from colleagues across the country that may be further along in like-initiatives.

The data, recommendations and expansion strategies are summarized in a Boston Foundation report released in February 2009: The Arts Advantage: Expanding Arts Education in the Boston Public Schools (.pdf).