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PGUSD outlines K–12 arts and world‑language expansion, including instrumental music and Spanish for grades 2–5
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Summary
District executive staff presented an overview of visual and performing arts (VAPA) and world‑language offerings across K–12, highlighting Spanish in grades 2–5, expanded middle‑school electives and high‑school AP/dual‑enrollment VAPA courses aligned to district LCAP and WASC goals.
Pacific Grove Unified officials presented a district overview of world‑language and visual and performing arts (VAPA) offerings at the Aug. 7 board meeting, describing available courses across elementary, middle and high schools and alignment to the district’s LCAP and accreditation goals.
Executive Director of Educational Services Larry Hedquist said the presentation used "backward mapping" — beginning with high‑school outcomes and aligning middle and elementary programming to those goals. At the high school, Hedquist noted Spanish and French are offered through level 4 plus AP work, and that the high school offers an array of VAPA options including 2‑D/3‑D art, photography, orchestra, band, guitar and drama; some of these courses include AP and dual‑enrollment options.
At the middle school, Hedquist described a sixth‑grade elective “wheel” that gives students exposure to Spanish, art, home‑ec and technology; seventh and eighth graders may take full‑year elective courses in language or arts and can participate in band and orchestra ensembles.
Elementary programming: Hedquist reported Spanish instruction will be offered to all students in grades 2–5 once per week, expanding prior arrangements (which had offered Spanish more frequently only in certain grades). General music will continue in TK–5; the district plans to expand instrumental music to grades 3–5 pending an additional hire, Hedquist said. Visual‑arts instruction is delivered through a district curriculum ("Art in Action") with classroom teachers using prepackaged lessons and supplied materials.
Why it matters: the program mapping demonstrates how early exposure, electives and high‑school pathways are intended to scaffold skills that support college, career and life readiness — district goals Hedquist tied to the LCAP and WASC self‑study.
School‑level comments: Robert Down principal Emily Tighe Brownfield clarified that general music is provided to every TK–5 classroom and that instrumental music is an opt‑in, graded pull‑out option during the instructional day for students who select an instrument.
Discussion vs. action: the presentation was informational. Trustees praised expansion and asked staff to continue recruiting qualified instructors for elementary instrumental and to consider more frequent exposure for language and music when budget and schedules allow.
Ending: Hedquist closed by saying the district seeks to keep VAPA and world language offerings aligned K–12 so students have multiple opportunities to explore arts and language and to build toward high‑school coursework.
