California Art and Music Education Ballot Initiative Campaign Submits a Million Signatures

variety.com:

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterSupporters of a measure to expand arts and music education in California schools announced Tuesday that they have submitted 1 million signatures, more than enough to qualify the initiative for the November ballot.The initiative is led by former L.A.

Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner, and has garnered support from scores of Hollywood executives and entertainers, including Katy Perry, Issa Rae, John Lithgow and Jeff Bridges.

Several entertainment industry unions are also on board, including SAG-AFTRA, Actors Equity and the California branch of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.If approved by a majority of voters this fall, the measure would allocate $800 million to $1 billion per year to arts and music education in K-12 schools. “We have put together a truly remarkable coalition in support of public schoolchildren,” Beutner told Variety. “We have the good and great from across art and music and technology.”One of the goals of the initiative is to help diversify the ranks of the entertainment industry, which remains disproportionately white.

The funding formula for the money would be tilted toward low-income districts.The signature verification process is expected to be completed in July.