Beverley Taylor Sorenson
Arts Learning Program (BTS Arts)
State Charter School Board
December 09, 2024
Laurie Baefsky, USBE Fine Arts Coordinator
Lisa Cluff, Art Works for Kids, Executive Director
About BTS Arts
The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program (BTS Arts) provides arts-integrated instruction to elementary students, grades K-6, to increase student performance in every subject—from language arts and social studies, to math and science.
The Utah State Board of Education, through legislative appropriation, helps fund licensed teachers who are qualified experts in one of four art disciplines: dance, drama, music or visual arts.
An Arts-Integrated Education
BTS Arts Educators are licensed and endorsed teachers. They collaborate with elementary classroom teachers to develop and provide exceptional arts instruction that integrates the arts with language arts, science, social studies, and math.
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BTS Arts Impact
Students participating in BTS Arts from 2009-2013 scored on average:
…compared to students in schools without BTS Arts.
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Read more about current BTS Arts impact here
"During the past 7 years of teaching in the BTS program, I have witnessed miraculous growth amongst our students with special needs. I have observed great progress in the areas of gross motor and fine motor skills, communication skills, cognitive development, following directions, and their overall understanding of core concepts through art forms.”
— Kirsten Anderson, PDP at SUU, Iron County School District
Coming Soon...
BTS Arts 2025-30 Strategic Plan
Thank you…
…for participating in the BTS Arts
2024 strategic planning survey
Stakeholder Engagement Update
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Coaches & Coordinators
University Partners
Superintendents
Principals
Charter School Administrators
BTS Arts Educators
Parents
Classroom teachers
Focus groups - 25-30 ppl
Survey - 44 responses
Status of engagement:
COMPLETE
IN PROGRESS
Focus group - 16 ppl
Survey - 23 responses
Out of 39
Survey - 265 responses
Out of 421
Survey - 28 responses
Out of 55
Survey - 184 responses
Survey - 1,829 responses
Survey - 6 responses
As of Nov 18th, over 2,300 total responses and counting across all surveys
Key Stakeholder Feedback
Principals - What do you see as the largest benefits of the BTS Arts program for the students in your school?
Key Stakeholder Feedback
Charter Schools - What aspects of the BTS Arts program infrastructure provide the most support to your school to implement the program effectively?
“[There is a]Lack of understanding of professional development opportunities for our Arts teachers.” - Coaches & Coordinators
“I have TONS of ideas shared through past PD’s, and current PD’s, in just 2 years now. What I lack is time to review them, file them, organize them, so I can easily retrieve them. I’m overwhelmed with the amount of great ideas and how to sort them for use.” - BTS Arts Educators
What are your school's biggest issues with funding the BTS Arts program?
Charter school directors aligned with non-charter principals on their top funding issue; response results were as follows:
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BTS Arts Strategic Planning Survey
Important Dates
Intent to Return - January 31st
New School Applications - January 31st
Salary Verifications - September 30th
Program Assurances - April 1st
Thank You Charter Administrators!
Questions?
Laurie Baefsky, Fine Arts Coordinator, Utah State Board of Education
laurie.baefsky@schools.utah.gov
Lisa Cluff, Art Works for Kids, Executive Director