The Austin Independent School District, established in 1881, is located in Austin, Texas and consists of 110 campuses with a population of 82,000+ students. The Fine Arts Department of Austin ISD serves students and faculty in Art, Dance, Music (Elementary/General, Band, Choir, Orchestra), and Theatre curricular content areas, grades kindergarten through twelve.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Community Arts Partners

Click here to access a copy of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for Community Arts Partners. I will be conducting several meetings over the next three weeks to assist staff and community members on the RFP. Please send this RFP to individuals and groups that you would like to work in our schools for the next three years. Specifications and bid forms are available for download from our website, http://www.austinisd.org/, under "Quicklinks," select "Purchasing & Bid Opportunities."

Thank you.

Greg Goodman
Director of Fine Arts
Austin Independent School District

THE IMPORTANCE OF FINE ARTS EDUCATION

Virtually all Texas public schools have experienced difficult financial situations in the past few years. We at the Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts (CEDFA) realize that many of your fine arts programs have encountered reductions in resources and personnel in addition to the elimination of entire programs.

To spread the word pertaining to the critical importance of Fine Arts education in our schools, CEDFA has commissioned an inspirational and supportive video. Please view, enjoy, and share the video via the link provided below with everyone - friends, colleagues, and administrators. Inform and remind your community that Fine Arts education is always a sound investment for our students.

The Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts

Thomas H. Waggoner
President, CEDFA Board of Directors
Program Director of Fine Arts Education
College of Fine Arts
The University of Texas at Austin

AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

ANY GIVEN CHILD SURVEY
Austin ISD Arts Organizations and Artists

If you currently provide arts education services to Austin ISD schools ,grades K-8, your help is needed.

Please respond to this 9 question survey to help identify what campuses you serve by providing workshops or multiple visit residencies, teaching in after school programs, hosting field trips in your theaters or museums, or providing professional development.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/H8NLYHQ

This information will be used by the Kennedy Center's Any Given Child initiative, a collaboration among the Austin ISD, the City of Austin, and the arts community, to identify and address any inequities that might exist in our schools. The short survey will ask you basic information about your program and ask you to identify the Austin ISD elementary and Mmddle schools you served during the 2011 calendar year.

If you only work in private schools, Austin ISD high schools ,or in other school districts, you need not complete this survey. If you do serve Austin ISD students, we hope you will complete this survey by February 27, 2012.

Thank you for the transformational education you bring to the students of central Texas. We admire your work.

AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Fine Arts Education Statistics

AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Performing Arts Center

Click here to access the schematic design for the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center!

TARGET FIELD TRIP GRANTS

Target Field Trip Grant funds are used for visits to art, science, and cultural museums, community service or civic projects, career enrichment opportunities, and other events or activities away from the school facility. Funds may be used to cover field trip-related costs, such as transportation, ticket fees, food, resource materials, and supplies. The deadline to apply for Target Field Trip Grant funds for the 2011-2012 school year is Monday, October 3, 2011. Click on the link provided below to access additional information and the online application form for the Target Field Trip Grants:

http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031880

BRUCE DINKINS
Director of Bands
James Bowie High School

Dear Colleagues:

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Bruce Dinkins passed away on Wednesday, June 22, 2011. Bruce Dinkins was one of the greatest music educators of our modern times. He has shaped the direction of our fine arts department in Austin ISD for many years to come. He was the epitome of a classroom teacher and mentor for his students and peers. His legacy and compassion will be felt in our hearts and lives forever.

The Bowie Band program is an example of excellence that we all try to emulate. Bruce was always trying to raise the bar and worked diligently to teach students about life and the love of music. He will be truly missed. Please keep his family and the Bowie community in your thoughts and prayers.

  • Sincerely,
  • Greg Goodman
  • Director of Fine Arts
  • Austin ISD

CENTER FOR EDUCATOR DEVELOPMENT IN FINE ARTS
Fine Arts/Mathematics/Science Integration Project

Rider 42E of the General Appropriations Act, Article III of the Student Success Initiative, was enacted into law by the 2009 81st Texas Legislature. Rider 42E provided a grant for professional development training to teachers of mathematics, science, and fine arts (art, dance, music, theatre), grades K-12, related to effective and appropriate methods of integrated teaching and learning within these three academic disciplines through coordination of lesson plans, instructional strategies, and curricula that is based upon the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The Region 20 Education Service Center (ESC-20) in San Antonio was designated as the grant manager, and the Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts (CEDFA) was awarded this grant. Goals and objectives of the project are to provide professional development to educators related to integration of fine arts with mathematics and science at each of the twenty ESCs and through the Texas Education Agency's Project Share and iTunes U.

Click on the link to the CEDFA website below to view a video created by CEDFA pertaining to the Rider 42E integration project and the importance of fine arts education in Texas schools. The video features students and teachers of fine arts, mathematics, and science from various schools and settings, including Austin ISD's Anderson High School.

Rider 42E – Student Success Initiative

You are encouraged to share this information and video with your fine arts, mathematics, and science colleagues and administrators. For additional information about the Rider 42E integration project, contact Kris Andrews, Executive Director of CEDFA, at krisandrews@cedfa.org.