In 2022, California voters passed Proposition 28 (Prop 28), the Arts and Music in Schools (AMS) — Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act, which established annual funding for arts education for all public schools across the state. This brief presents what 203 staff members from county offices of education, districts, and schools shared about how this historic investment in arts education is beginning to produce expanded arts programming, increased student access to instruction, and greater participation in the arts.

Early findings suggest that Prop 28 AMS is having a positive impact on arts education across California. Nearly two thirds of respondents reported increased student participation in arts education. Many described how Prop 28 AMS funding enabled schools to introduce, restore, or expand arts programs; hire arts educators; improve access to materials; and remove barriers for students to participate in the arts. These changes have resulted in increased discussion about the arts, a greater emphasis on the value of the arts, and stronger support for arts education statewide. In addition to these early, encouraging successes, some ongoing challenges related to implementation include staffing capacity, accountability, and funding administration. These findings suggest that sustained support and strategic planning will be essential in realizing the long-term promise of Prop 28 AMS.