Ingenuity State of the Arts Progress Report 2015-2016 | Page 13

Even as the Plan was being launched, it
was widely recognized by the stakeholders
involved that such an ambitious effort would
require a broad-based and multi-faceted
approach that recognized the complexity of
expanding the arts infrastructure in Chicago
and bringing the arts to all CPS students. The
Creative Schools Initiative was created to
help turn the vision outlined in the Plan into a
reality. Designed with Ingenuity’s support, the
Creative Schools Initiative was set in motion
to develop a district-level infrastructure
consisting of strong policy and guidance, as
well as technical support at the school level,
to promote growth in arts instruction.

The Initiative’s Strategies
1. School Leadership
The long-term goal is to have a SOLID ARTS INFRASTRUCTURE
in each CPS school. This includes new peer-to-peer principal

the plan / CPS arts plan and initiative

INITIATIVE

and instructor professional development programs, along
with blueprints for school decision making. Arts Liaisons help
drive each school’s budgeting and planning; report progress;
and coordinate curricula, programs, and partnerships.

2. Data
To develop their arts programs, schools must first recognize
the existing infrastructure on which to build. Ingenuity’s
artlook® Suite collects detailed information on arts
instruction in every school. The goal is to IDENTIFY STUDENT
NEEDS for each school, including additional staffing, minutes
of instruction, disciplines taught, and partnerships.

The Creative Schools Initiative
was created to help turn the
vision outlined in the Plan into
a reality.

3. The Creative Schools Certification
Each school is identified along the Creative Schools
Certification continuum; that ranking is then placed on each
CPS school report card. The Certification’s five categories
create a roadmap for expanding quality and access. The
certification is a tool to SUPPORT PRINCIPALS’ DECISIONS
TO GROW ARTS INSTRUCTION in their school.

The Initiative has four interlocking strategies,
each of which responds to a central issue
or challenge identified by instructors,
community arts partners, and others during
the development of the Plan.

4. The Creative Schools Fund $
The Creative Schools Fund PROVIDES MODEST GRANTS
directly to schools BASED ON NEED. Grants made by the
fund support instructor-designed arts programs that
would otherwise go unfunded. The Fund exclusively
supports programs involving school-based, credentialed
arts instructors.

13