CREATE CA HAS led the movement to unite and amplify statewide efforts to reinstate the arts at the core of education for all public school students since its founding in 2011. It merged with the California Alliance for Arts Education in 2021 and built on both organizations’ legacy in advocating for equitable access to arts education.

In honor of its vital work, Create CA has been named CTA’s 2024 Gold Award winner. The award recognizes individuals or organizations whose leadership, acts and support have had a positive impact on public education.

Create CA’s advocacy continues to be vital. Proposition 28, the Arts & Music in Schools Act, was passed by California voters in 2022 and provides Pre K–12 public schools with ongoing funding to increase arts instruction. The unprecedented investment, approximately $800 million–$1 billion annually, is intended to increase equity and
access to arts education. Prop. 28 requires that funding supplement existing arts education funding and programming, not replace them, and that 80% of funding must
pay for either new arts teachers or arts teachers working additional hours.

In February, LA Unified School District students and the author of Prop. 28 filed a lawsuit against the district and its superintendent, alleging the misuse of $76.7 million in Prop. 28 funds. The suit, supported by United Teachers Los Angeles and other unions, contends that hundreds of thousands of students have been deprived from receiving expanded arts and music instruction as mandated by law.

Create CA urges parents, students, teachers, arts organizations and community members to engage with their school leaders to ensure Prop. 28 funds are used properly and offers tools to help raise awareness about the issue on their site, createca.org.

Congratulations to Create CA!