$1.4 million in grants awarded to support performing arts in OC

The Fullerton School District and the Anaheim Elementary School District were recently awarded a combined $1.4 million in state grants to help increase music and arts education.

Fullerton received about $741,000 and Anaheim was presented with about $704,000 as part of the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant program, aimed at enhancing visual and performing arts education as part of a comprehensive strategy to expand access to physical and mental health care.

A few weeks ago, we reported how a consortium led by the Orange County Department of Education received $1.4 million as part of the same grant program. The OCDE-led consortium will use the funding to help increase music and arts education among special needs students and those in alternative education programs across the county.

Fullerton will use its grant to help support the district’s Center STAGE program, which benefits more than 1,000 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The Center STAGE program is open to all students in the district and will begin implementation this summer. From June 17 through June 28, 2019, 600 students will participate in one or more of the following arts programs offered at two centralized school sites in the district: five STAGE shows, including a dual-language show; art class to design show posters, program and flyers; band class to learn to play for one show; and media arts class to film plays and create a documentary of the program.