19 California Schools Honored for Outstanding Arts Programs; Questions Raised About Funding, Access and Local Lessons for Paso Robles
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced 19 schools received the 2026 California Exemplary Arts Education Awards on March 23, 2026, recognizing culturally responsive, credentialed arts programs that expand access for English learners and students with disabilities.
Key takeaways
- 19 schools statewide were named 2026 Exemplary Arts Education Awardees for multi‑discipline arts instruction and equitable access.
- Eligibility requires at least three arts disciplines taught during the regular day by credentialed instructors aligned to state standards.
- Disparities remain: awardees range from Title I campuses to well‑funded suburban schools, raising questions about resource equity and enforcement of access.
- Paso Robles implications: local leaders can leverage community partnerships, targeted grants and culturally relevant curricula to expand arts opportunities.
Main content
Who won: the 19 awardees
The 2026 Exemplary Arts Education Awardees span elementary, middle and high schools across California. Each school below is listed with the district and principal; the awardee listing is documented by the California Department of Education.
- Claremont High School, Claremont Unified School District (James Mitchell)
- Delano High School, Delano Joint Union High School District (Dolores Rodriguez)
- Gilroy High School, Gilroy Unified School District (Julie Beggren)
- Crescenta Valley High School, Glendale Unified School District (Christine Benitez)
- Mark Keppel Elementary School, Glendale Unified School District (Jaclyn Scott)
- Prairie Vista Middle School, Hawthorne School District (Sandra MacKellar)
- Hesperia High School, Hesperia Unified School District (Michael Everett)
- ICEF View Park Preparatory High School, ICEF Public Schools (Shuron Owens)
- Maywood Center for Enriched Studies, Los Angeles Unified School District (Salvador Torres)
- Mira Costa High School, Manhattan Beach Unified School District (Jennifer Huynh)
- Palm Middle School, Moreno Valley Unified School District (Hilary Reynolds)
- Echo Valley Elementary School, North Monterey County Unified School District (Jacob Gile)
- Novato High School, Novato Unified School District (Michelle Cortez)
- Orange County School of the Arts, Orange County Board of Education (Maria Lazarova)
- C. K. McClatchy High School, Sacramento City Unified School District (Andrea Egan)
- Trabuco Hills High School, Saddleback Valley Unified School District (Alicia Foulk)
- Gabrielino High School, San Gabriel Unified School District (Vince Lopez)
- Jefferson Middle School, San Gabriel Unified School District (Sandra Alley)
- San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, San Diego Unified School District (Timothy Farson)
Regional note
Nine of the winners are in Los Angeles County, highlighting that county’s concentration of arts resources and program infrastructure; the Los Angeles County Office of Education summarized the regional distribution of awardees.
Los Angeles County Office of Education summary
What the state says
“It is my honor to congratulate these 19 schools for the powerful role they play in supporting arts programs across our state. These dynamic learning environments are where students have the opportunity to explore their creativity and strengthen their voices.” — Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent
Thurmond’s remarks were timed to March Arts Education Month and emphasized arts education’s role in building empathy, confidence and self‑expression. See the official announcement for full context.
Education California / ACSA coverage of the 2026 awardees · California Department of Education news release
Award rules, timeline and verification
The California Department of Education requires that qualifying schools teach at least three arts disciplines (dance, media arts, music, theatre or visual arts) during the regular school day, delivered by credentialed instructors and aligned with state arts standards. Applications documented access for English learners, students with disabilities and other special populations. The application window for this cycle opened May 1, 2025 and closed December 21, 2025, with reviews from January through March 2026.
Full eligibility criteria and awardee information are posted by the state: CDE awardee listings · CDE arts education pages
Investigative angle: funding, access and outcomes
The 19 awardees include schools from affluent coastal districts and Title I communities with tight budgets. That mix prompts two central questions for policymakers and the public.
1) Are awards recognizing program quality or local wealth?
The program emphasizes substance — curriculum quality, credentialed staff, assessment and documented access — but districts with stronger local revenue and fundraising can more easily maintain multiple arts disciplines and professional learning. The presence of both Title I and well‑funded suburban schools suggests the review examines program elements, while also underscoring resource disparities.
2) How is equal access measured and enforced?
Applications require documentation that special populations have equal opportunities, but practical barriers remain: transportation to after‑school ensembles, fees for instruments, language supports and outreach. The application and monitoring process may benefit from stronger community‑facing transparency so parents and taxpayers can verify equitable access.
Local context matters: community support and credentialing
Two levers consistently determine program strength: qualified, credentialed teachers and active community partnerships. Schools often rely on district staffing, grants or partnerships with local arts organizations to offer multiple disciplines during the school day. Specialized arts schools, such as the Orange County School of the Arts and San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, illustrate long‑standing infrastructures and networks that expand student opportunities.
CDE awardee listings and examples
Implications for Paso Robles
Economic impact
Paso Robles can use awardee models to leverage community resources: arts programs create demand for venues, technicians, set builders and private instructors, benefitting small businesses. Local festivals, wineries and tourism partners could host performances and sponsor programs that increase income and visibility for student artists.
Political consequences
For voters and officials focused on fiscal responsibility, the awards show how targeted spending and public‑private partnerships can expand opportunities without recurring tax increases. Paso Robles Unified leaders can reference award criteria — credentialed staff, aligned curriculum and measurable access — when proposing one‑time grants, bond measures or reallocations.
Social effects
Educators link arts education to improved attendance, behavior and graduation. Expanding arts access for English learners, students with disabilities and low‑income families can strengthen community cohesion; parents and civic groups are potential partners for culturally responsive offerings.
Cultural relevance
Paso Robles’ cultural identity—agriculture, wineries, small‑town traditions—offers material for arts curricula that reflect local heritage and prepare students for creative careers. Leaders should encourage blending state arts standards with locally relevant content.
Practical applications for local schools
- Audit arts coverage: determine whether schools offer instruction in three arts disciplines during the regular day and whether instructors hold appropriate credentials. (CDE awardee criteria)
- Seek partnerships: engage local theaters, wineries, businesses and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for program support and venues.
- Apply for grants: use the award criteria as a roadmap for state, county and private arts funding applications. (CDE arts education resources)
- Measure access: collect and publish participation data for English learners and students with disabilities to ensure equitable opportunities.
Next steps and transparency
Paso Robles officials pursuing similar recognition should consult official guidance and timelines from the California Department of Education. The CDE pages include award criteria, past awardees and planning resources for professional learning and curriculum alignment.
CDE arts education guidance · 2026 CDE news release with award details
Sources and further reading
- California Department of Education news release: 2026 Exemplary Arts Education Awardees
- California Department of Education Arts Education Awardee listings and criteria
- California Department of Education Arts Education pages
- Education California / ACSA coverage of 2026 awardees
- Los Angeles County Office of Education summary (regional focus)
Awardees will be celebrated at the California School Recognition Program Ceremony in Anaheim on April 24, 2026. Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo County leaders now face choices about following these models, seeking recognition, or balancing arts investment with other priorities.
