Goal 1: Access to Arts Education

In SY24, 39% of CPS schools met the 2012 Plan’s goals and priorities compared to 14% in SY13. This highlights both the progress made and the work still to be done. Certain metrics also have plateaued in recent years, including arts instructional minutes for elementary schools and the breadth and depth of arts instruction available to high school students. With this robust and consistent data tracking, there is a clear understanding of where disparities persist and where newly targeted efforts can drive further impact.

Ideal State

We envision a district where 100% of CPS students attend schools that meet or exceed our standards for Access, as defined by the Creative Schools Certification (CSC). In this future state, every school is staffed with certified arts educators across multiple disciplines, and all students receive the minimum recommended instructional minutes in the arts. Course offerings are broad, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate from pre-K through 12th grade. Schools are equipped with the necessary resources, facilities, and support structures to deliver robust arts programming. Strong partnerships with cultural institutions further enrich students’ learning experiences.

Each Access priority area in this plan directly corresponds to a metric in the CSC Access rubric, including staffing levels, instructional time, course availability and programmatic depth, resources and facilities, and school level conditions to support arts education. By aligning our strategies with these established benchmarks, we are creating a clear, measurable pathway to ensure that every student has equitable access to high-quality arts education.

Current State Data