The School Arts Programs Taken Hostage: Refuse to Pay Ransom

Don’t bother threatening to cut public-school arts programs due to funding shortages; maybe advocates could consider using a different tactic this time?

Okay, making a big fuss about losing instruments or art instruction for kids is a good way to rally support against any cuts, but the reality is that the city currently spends over $37,000 per enrolled public-school student.

If the arts are at risk, it’s because other areas are getting excessive funding.

With the city and state finalizing their budgets, there is a lot of manipulation going on.

For instance, the New York City Arts in Education Roundtable is warning that kids will lose important programs unless taxpayers give more money.

“Arts education programs are at risk due to expiring federal funds,” they warn, citing the loss of $41 million in COVID aid.

“That money has been distributed to every single school,” says Roundtable head Kim Olsen.

COVID aid is indeed expiring, but the threat is over, and it was never related to arts education.

Arts funding is a small part of the $37 billion spent by the city Department of Education, which has increased by 10% in the last five years despite a decrease in enrollment.

Per-student spending has increased by more than 25%, projected to reach nearly $40,000 in FY 2025 according to the Citizens Budget Commission.

City taxpayers are not seeing significant improvements in standardized test scores despite the increased spending.

The city can find the funds for instruments, art supplies, and arts teachers within its budget.

Lobbying efforts should focus on school principals, who have control over the school’s arts program funding.

New Yorkers should not cave to threats and increase school funding across the board, even if advocates make drastic warnings.