Serrano and Bing Successful in Push for Arts Education Committee

State Senator José Serrano (D-Manhattan/Bronx) and Assemblymember Jonathan Bing (D-Manhattan) today applauded the Department of Education and Panel for Education Policy for implementing their legislation to establish an Arts Advisory Committee for New York City public schools.  The Serrano/Bing bill (S. 6105/A. 9134) which passed the State Senate in 2009, creates an advisory committee to advise the Chancellor on arts education and to work to improve compliance with State arts education requirements.

"It is critical that qualified members of New York's arts and educational communities work together to oversee arts instruction," said Serrano. "I applaud Mayor Michael Bloomberg for working with us to establish this important panel, even while the legislative process is still underway. This type of diverse civic engagement is just what our schools need to improve the academic achievement of our children through the arts.  I'm excited to see these important changes in legislation become a reality and positively impact young people throughout the city."

"Arts education is an important part of our children's well-being," Bing said.  "I applaud the Panel for Education Policy and the Department of Education for adopting these standards and setting forth a way to improve arts education in New York City schools."

The 12-member Arts Advisory Committee will be charged with: advising and commenting on any educational or instructional policy involving arts education; issuing an annual report on the effectiveness of the city school district in providing arts education and make recommendations, as appropriate, on how to improve the efficacy and delivery of such services; and holding public meetings to discuss issues related to arts education.

The legislation introduced by Serrano and Bing establishes similar provisions as the measure adopted by the Panel for Education Policy and the Department of Education.  The bill is currently in the Assembly Education Committee.

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