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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kimberly Olson, Executive Director of New York City Arts and Education Roundtable on Arts Education Funding
6:23:43
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137 sec
Kimberly Olson, Executive Director of the New York City Arts and Education Roundtable, testifies on behalf of the "It Starts With The Arts" coalition and the coalition for equitable education funding. She advocates for prioritizing arts education funding in New York City schools and communities, highlighting the current underfunding and its impacts.
- Olson points out that only 3% of NYC public schools' budget is allocated to arts education, with inflation-adjusted funding $40.8 million less than in FY '17.
- She reveals that 379 schools (1 in 5) lack a certified arts teacher, affecting thousands of students.
- Olson calls for extending and baselining at-risk education funding of $41 million, ensuring every school has a certified arts teacher, restoring support for arts instruction initiative at $6 million, and restoring funding for the Department of Cultural Affairs.
Kimberly Olson
6:23:43
Thank you so much Chair Brannan, Council Member Hudson, and Deputy Speaker Ayala for your time and your commitment to arts, education, and culture in New York City.
6:23:52
My name is Kimberly Olson, and I'm proud to be the Executive director of the New York City Arts and Education Roundtable.
6:23:58
I'm testifying as part of the It Starts With The Arts coalition as well as the coalition for equitable education funding, calling on our city to prioritize funding for arts education in our schools and communities.
6:24:08
The past few years have really underscored the profound need for spaces where young people can process their experiences, think critically about the world around them, and also build resilience.
6:24:19
That starts with the arts.
6:24:20
However, despite these undeniable benefits, the data reveals a stark reality.
6:24:25
Funds budgeted for arts education account for 3% of New York City public schools' budget.
6:24:30
When adjusted for inflation, New York City public schools is actually budgeting about $40,800,000 less than we were in FY '17.
6:24:39
And additionally, thanks to the term and condition passed last year by the city council, we learned that three seventy nine schools currently lack a certified arts teacher, which is about one in five schools, leaving thousands of students without a dedicated arts teacher in their school.
6:24:54
More than 700 arts and cultural organizations work in partnership with schools last year alone to not only bridge that gap, broaden access to world class artists and to provide external funding to schools.
6:25:05
But delays in contracting and payment from multiple government agencies caused not only delayed educational opportunities, but also delayed employment for our city's creative workforce.
6:25:16
Investing in arts education is an investment in our city's future.
6:25:19
Therefore, urge our city to take decisive action to ensure that all students have access to high quality arts learning opportunities.
6:25:25
This includes extending and baselining at risk education funding of $41,000,000 alongside other education programs currently on the chopping block that were previously funded by expiring federal stimulus dollars.
6:25:37
Ensuring that every school has a certified arts teacher, restoring and enhancing the support for arts instruction initiative at $6,000,000 requiring DOE arts funding actually be spent on the arts, and restoring and baselining funding for the Department of Cultural Affairs.
6:25:52
I'll be submitting a full written testimony, but I wanna thank you again for your time.
6:25:56
We want inviting, colorful, and vibrant thriving communities.
6:25:59
That starts with the arts.
6:26:00
Thank you.