Survey Shows Arts Education Reality Doesn't Match Chicago Public Schools Promises

A new survey of 170 Chicago public elementary schools by Raise Your Hand Illinois found that 65 percent do not offer the expected minimum of two hours of arts education per week, as stated by both Mayor Emanuel and CPS officials.

The web-based survey of 444 respondents, conducted in January and February, includes information from parents and teachers representing nearly one-third of CPS schools. The survey found:

• 14 percent have no arts instruction
• 51 percent have less than two hours of arts instruction per week
• 26 percent have two hours of art instruction
• 9 percent have more than two hours of arts instruction
• 31 percent saw a decline in arts instruction this year

The findings are in marked contrast to the promises and proposals the mayor and CPS officials have touted in recent years.

As part of its arts education plan, for example, the “Arts Abstract 2012-2015” states the first goal of its the CPS District Arts Policy is to "make arts a core subject by dedicating 120 minutes of arts instruction per week for elementary schools.” The plan goes on to set “minimum staffing requirements in the arts at once certified full-time employee per school, or an improved ratio such as one teacher for every 350 students.”