Ingenuity report shows access to the arts continues to grow in CPS

CHICAGO, IL – Ingenuity today released its 8th annual State of the Arts in Chicago Public Schools report for the 2019-20 school year.  This annual progress report presents data that tracks student access to arts education in Chicago Public Schools (CPS) while also identifying areas for improvement and opportunities for growth.

This year’s State of the Arts report reflects the changes in student access by sharing more details on the data behind the new Creative Schools Certification (CSC).  Ingenuity and CPS employed a new scoring method, CSC 2.0, which improves the ability to track arts offerings in detail, identifies the key factors that make a quality arts education possible, and explores new ideas about how to translate these elements into a plan for school improvement by focusing on access and quality of instruction.

“Evolving the way arts education is measured at CPS  is a natural progression in our journey to  ensuring every CPS student has equitable access to a quality arts education,”  said new CPS CEO Pedro Martinez.  “The  benefits of arts education show up in all phases of a student’s development, both academically and emotionally.  Now more than ever, arts education can help students recover from what we know has been an exceptionally challenging time period not only for them, but also their families and loved ones.”

A highlighted look at some key findings show:

• 87% of elementary schools rated as Excelling and 92% rated as Excelling or Strong in access to any arts instruction.
• 65% of schools are rated as Excelling in the staffing measure and 82% are rated as either Excelling or Strong.
• Budgets for the arts decreased both in elementary and high schools.
• 94% of elementary and high schools use some form of arts learning standards.
• There was a 20% reduction in the number of arts partners identified as working in one or more CPS schools.

“The updated scoring  will help all stakeholders better understand the needs of all schools, identify opportunities for improvement, and encourage  investment in equitable access to arts education throughout CPS,” said Paul Sznewajs, Executive Director at Ingenuity. “The score schools receive will now, more than ever, trigger action and support for improvement.”

In addition to the State of the Arts report, Ingenuity will provide on-going data analyses of CPS arts education.  These analyses will be “Data Snapshots” and occur regularly throughout the year on a rolling basis.

Data Snapshots will provide actionable analysis of CPS arts education trends enabling deeper understanding of the barriers to arts education in CPS, and empowering CPS arts teachers, principals, and arts partners to develop plans to address them using  real-time data.

READ THE STATE OF THE ARTS REPORT

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About Ingenuity

Ingenuity is a backbone arts education 501(c)(3) with core programs in data, advocacy, grant-making, and professional learning. The organization’s collective-impact approach to arts advocacy drives partnerships, insights, and investments in the arts for 330,000 students in Chicago Public Schools. A nationally-recognized arts advocacy leader, Ingenuity has advanced the most progress in CPS arts education in 40 years. Learn more at ingenuity-inc.org.

Contact:  Nicole Upton  nu@ingenuity-inc.org