Art Tech Grant: Expanding Access to Well-Rounded Courses Demonstration Grants Program

Art Tech Project Announcement

In September, 2020, Oklahoma State Department of Education was awarded the Expanding Access to Well-Rounded Demonstration Grant. This $5,810,691 million dollar, 5-year grant will restore arts education in Oklahoma schools currently without arts programming. This project is in partnership with the Oklahoma Arts Council, University of Central Oklahoma, the Chickasaw Nation, the Osage Nation, and the University of Oklahoma’s Center for Educational Development and Research (CEDaR).

In the News

Hofmeister announces school grants totaling $15 million- October 1, 2020

Secretary DeVos Announces Student-Centered Grant Awards to Expand Student Access-September 18, 2020

Art Tech Project Purpose 

The purpose of the Art Tech grant is to restore and sustain arts education into schools currently without arts programs by creating partnerships and investments that leverage the collective experience, wisdom, and resources of our communities. Our partners, including the Oklahoma Arts Council, Osage Nation, Chickasaw Nation, and the University of Central Oklahoma, will recruit and train 20 teaching artists within school communities and develop online arts curriculum and resources. At the conclusion of the five-year grant, eight (8) hybrid courses will be implemented in partner districts, impacting approximately 20,000 students.

To learn more, view the Art Tech Project Abstract.

Art Tech Schools Accepted for 2022-2023 School Year

The Art Tech grant was awarded to the following schools for the PK-12 program

Participating schools selected for the upcoming year will receive:

PK-8 Program

Curriculum in Visual Arts, Dance, Music, or Drama/Theatre designed for classroom teachers and teaching artists, aligned to Oklahoma Fine Arts Standards and accessible for all students.

Teaching Artists from the local or nearby arts community that will facilitate the lessons and Arts Experiences and support schools in community events such as showcases, field trips, or visiting artists.

• High School Hybrid Courses

• High schools will receive semester online courses in the fine arts (music, visual arts, dance, and drama) facilitated by a certified online teacher. Schools provide an on-stie lead to create a period for the course and provide learner support during the school day. A teaching artist is assigned to facilitate in-person arts experiences students have prepared through the course.

An OSDE educational technologist supports the high school courses in Canvas learning management system and building learner support between the online teacher, and the school on-site lead teaecher.

OSDE arts specialists are assigned to PK-12 schools to ensure successful implementation and support of the schools' Art Tech program coaching and collaborating with the teaching artist, on-site lead teacher and school leaders.

The Art Tech program provides all these services and any necessary supplies for the curriculum at no cost to the schools.

We will soon be opening school 2023-2024 applications for PK-12 schools.

We are actively recruiting Teaching Artists for the 2022-2023, and 2023-2024 school year for the Elementary or Secondary program, please share the PK-8 part-time position and HS part-time position.

Any questions, please contact Debbie Enos, Project Director at debbie.enos@sde.ok.gov or Regina Kenton, Project Manager at regina.kenton@sde.ok.gov.