Request for Qualifications: Arts Education Planning Coaches 2018-2019

The LA County Arts Ed Collective provides technical assistance to LA County school districts developing district-wide art education plans. In support of this initiative, the LA County Arts Commission seeks individuals with arts education expertise, flexible schedules, and availability to provide 80-100 hours of time. If selected, applicants will make a long-term commitment to providing technical assistance to districts throughout the County on a consulting basis.

The Los Angeles County Arts Education Collective is dedicated to making the arts core in public education. In 2002, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors established the Arts Ed Collective to align efforts across the region with the goal that LA County’s 1.5 million public school students receive a well-rounded education that includes the arts.

The Arts Ed Collective is comprised of policy makers, educators, arts organizations, teaching artists, funders, business leaders, and community advocates. Strategic direction for the initiative is guided by the Leadership Council and Funders Council. The Los Angeles County Arts Commission coordinates the regional effort and the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) provides curriculum and instructional services for educators Countywide. The Arts Ed Collective currently partners with 70 of the 81 LA County public school districts and five LA County charter school networks to formulate and implement arts education polices and plans.

Overview

When a school district elects to create a strategic plan for arts education, a coach is assigned to help guide and facilitate the development of the plan. Over a nine-to-twelve month period, district and community leaders participate in a strategic planning process, culminating with the presentation and anticipated adoption of a district arts education policy and plan to the district’s school board.

The Arts Ed Collective seeks to add up to two individuals to its coaching roster. During 2018-2019 new members of the roster will participate in trainings and shadow a current Arts Ed Collective coach. Upon successful completion of training, new coaches will be assigned to districts seeking strategic planning or customized support.

Strategic Planning Methodology

The Arts Ed Collective recognizes that adhering to the basics of a strategic planning methodology —collecting current data, ascertaining need, deciding on priorities – will not result in success unless there is consensus from key stakeholders. Well-prepared coaches who are able to facilitate consensus-building and achieve buy-in from the administrators, school board leaders, teachers and community members will be successful contributors to the Arts Ed Collective coaching program.

Our approach is based on the Technology of Participation (ToP) Group Facilitation Methods (implemented with hundreds of organizations around the world since 1973). The strategic planning process aligns with the California Alliance for Arts Education and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission field-tested manual, The Insider’s Guide to Arts Education Planning.

The Role of a Coach

• Guide districts in creating an adopted arts education policy and plan for implementing K-12 arts education.
• Engage in a planning process that incorporates “buy-in” from district leadership, school board leadership, PTA leadership and community arts leadership.
• Build partnerships and collaborations with community resources (people, facilities and funding available for arts education).
• Serve as a member of a collegial group of qualified coaches providing technical assistance coaching to school districts creating arts education plans and implementing arts education.

Successful Applicants

A successful applicant will become a coach trainee for the 2018-19 school year, and will be expected to:

• Attend an orientation meeting in January/February 2019 (two hours)
• Attend and participate in the Technology of Participation (ToP) Facilitation Methodology training. The training course will provide the necessary tools, methods and strategies to learn how to guide school districts through the planning process. (32 hours)
• Shadow a mentor coach and co-facilitate the planning process to practice the methods learned in the ToP Facilitation Methods course of study. Collaborate in providing assistance and support to the district-designated co-chairs, including but not limited to the following areas: meeting design, meeting facilitation, debrief, report writing, policy, plan and budget preparation, school board presentations (approximately 40-50 hours).
• Attend two coaches’ forums to collaborate with current Arts Ed Collective coaches. (16 hours)
• Collect documentation and complete self-assessment reports as part of the New Coach Portfolio, a tool developed to support coach trainees with capturing their learning and experience as they shadow the mentor coach, practice the methods and track the school district strategic planning process.
• Submit a portfolio of the year’s work by June 15, 2019 which will include:
  1. Initial Facilitator’s Assessment
  2. Documentation of all meetings observed and co-facilitated
  3. Year-end Facilitator’s Assessment and Reflection

Compensation

Compensation in the training year includes:

1. $2,500 stipend
2. Group Facilitation Methods course ($645 value)
3. Strategic Planning Methods course ($645 value)
4. Ongoing individual and group mentoring

Coach trainees who successfully complete the training year will be eligible to be assigned to oversee the strategic planning process for Arts Ed Collective school districts during the 2019-20 school year. A typical district contract ranges from $4,000 to $10,000 depending on the district's level of participation. Coaches typically choose to work with 2-5 districts in a given school year and are contracted as consultants based on the number of districts seeking services.