Parents and teachers filed separate lawsuits against the Buffalo Public Schools, complaining that the school system has failed to provide equitable music and arts programming.
Both parents and teachers are filing separate lawsuits against the Buffalo Public Schools, citing a lack of access to music education. The legal papers claim a legally-required arts sequence is only provided at two district high schools.
Just over a year ago, Hutch Tech High School Band Director Amy Steiner had over 100 students participating in either jazz band, concert band and/or wind ensemble.
“Now we didn’t have a regular rehearsal time, and we only got to meet once a week before school, but we really became very close,” Steiner said. “We would have close to 30 gigs a year with my groups. A lot of them were outside my school.”
Students would rehearse with their ensemble before school started and for a time would receive credit for their diploma via a one minute period later in the day.
Today, outside of a small jazz group there are no performing ensembles at Hutch Tech, a school that still employs two music teachers.
Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore said the district isn’t compliant with state arts sequence regulations.
“The district is not providing this in all of our high schools. In fact, not in most of our schools. So we’re going to go to court to make sure that our kids gets what everybody else gets in the suburbs and what’s required by the law,” he said…
In New York State’s 2017 Revised Learning Standards for the Arts, school districts and the state alike are responsible for ensuring “equity of arts learning opportunities and resources for all students in the district/state.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
The lausuit seems to hinge on some muddy language about arts eduction.
(Steiner is referring in part to section seven of the removed FAQ)
“Yes, public schools must offer students the opportunity to begin an approved sequence in the arts (music, visual arts, theatre, dance) in grade nine (CR 100.2 (h)).
High school students who first enter grade 9 in 2001 and thereafter are no longer required to complete sequences as part of Regents diploma requirements.
However, all students must be given the opportunity to complete music sequences which may be used to fulfill diploma requirements.
Unless I am mistaken NY does not define the arts in statute or code as a core or academic subject. This is the customary basis for having district policies for required studies in the arts. My data source is a 2017 database from the Education Commission of the States.
In any case, it is good to see that teachers are parents are working on “opportunity” to study music and also becoming educated about the importance of having clear policies regarding arts education.
I can remember back in the late ’70s we faced severe cuts in NY due to budget shortfalls. Some art teachers were cut, but not the PE teachers. I was a building rep. at the time, and I remember PE was mandated, but not art or music. The situation have changed under the new arts sequence requirement. I certainly hope so as all students benefit from a quality arts program.
and in so many non-dominant-culture populations art of any kind is often turned into a way to make a living and, in the process, add non-traditional voice to the larger conversation
Diane, this is Amy Steiner. Are we able to communicate more about this article? Supreme Court hearings begin Wednesday March 4th.
Sure, write me at my NYU email.
What is the purpose of life?
Just to get a job?
We are supposed to train animals
educate people.
What is life about if not to enjoy life
and grasp the universality of mankind?
Isn’t it time to stop this STEM madness? Schools should teach subjects for their own intrinsic interest and value, not because they have “real world applications in economy, engineering, finance, computers”.