What to Expect: APS board to consider applying for arts money

Albuquerque Public Schools is seeking nearly $12 million in state money to bring the fine arts to more of its students.

At its Wednesday meeting, the district’s Board of Education will consider applying to the New Mexico Public Education Department for the money, authorized in the Public School Finance Act.

The allocation would provide instruction to 33,791 students at more than 100 schools, according to the agenda. The application says APS expects to have 187 fine arts teachers in its elementary and middle schools: 97 in music, 85 in visual arts, four in theater and one in dance.

The Public School Finance Act specifically states that the money is earmarked for arts education for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. APS has a fine arts expansion plan in place, which would have music and art programs at all of its 88 elementary schools for the upcoming school year.

The board will also hear an update on the district’s progress toward Goal 4 of its Emerging Stronger strategic plan. That goal in the plan is listed as “increase the percentage of students who demonstrate the skills, habits, and mindsets most aligned to life success: perseverance, self-regulation, self-efficacy, and social awareness.”