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Rocklin Unified expands Prop 28-funded arts: 'Spark the Arts' soft launch at Antelope Creek to go districtwide
Summary
Trustees heard a detailed update on Prop 28-funded elementary arts programming: expanded elementary music (six teachers serving 2,364 students), a 'Spark the Arts' school-of-choice soft launch at Antelope Creek, a K–2 rhythm-and-movement pilot, community partnerships and a full district launch planned for 2025–26 with open enrollment starting Jan. 21.
The Rocklin Unified Board of Trustees received an update on Prop 28‑funded arts programs and the district’s Spark the Arts school‑of‑choice pilot at Antelope Creek Elementary, with staff describing a "soft launch" this year and a planned full public launch for the 2025–26 school year.
Associate Superintendent Bill McDonald told the board the district expanded elementary music last year to six teachers and now provides music, choir, strings and band to about 2,364 fourth‑through‑sixth‑grade students. "All reports show that that's having a great impact and students are enjoying that," McDonald said.
Antelope Creek principal Brian R. Curry, program specialist Jill Thorndike and teacher Sally Van Wagner described classroom and schoolwide work integrating visual and performing arts into language‑arts and social‑studies units. Staff detailed six components of "artistic literacy," monthly professional development, a student logo contest and community partnerships to supply arts instruction and display student work at city hall.
The presentation noted a K–2 rhythm and movement pilot that meets once a semester and has been well received; staff said the goal is to develop two thematic arts-integrated units per grade level this year and another two next year. Open enrollment for Spark the Arts and the IB integration program is scheduled to open Jan. 21 for the 2025–26 school year.
Trustees praised staff and noted expected benefits for student engagement and teacher professional development; staff said they will continue to expand community partnerships and monitor program outcomes.
What’s next: district communications will publicize open enrollment and program details; staff will continue unit development, docent program pilots and build instruments and materials inventories using Prop 28 funds.
