colorful colored pencils

FAQs

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FAQs 〰️

Frequently Asked Questions

    • Exposes students to visual art and art history

    • Strengthens creative thinking, confidence, and visual literacy

    • Integrates art with Language Arts, Science, Math, Social Studies

    • Appeals to different learning styles

    • Empowers teachers and parents through training

    • Supplies lesson-specific art materials and ongoing support

    • Delivers an affordable, sequential, standards-based curriculum for K–8

    • Longstanding track record: serving hundreds of schools, over 500,000 students

    • Comprehensive: includes curriculum, materials, teacher + volunteer training, support

    • Online/hybrid support: video tutorials, downloadable resources, discussion guides

    • Globally diverse art approaches and histories spanning 17,000 years

    • Easy to adopt: no prior art experience required

    • Standards-aligned: matches California & National Visual Arts standards

    • Affordable: many schools pay under $10 per student per year

👉 About the Art in Action Program

  • Yes — it is aligned with National Standards for Visual Arts, many state visual arts standards, and supports integration with Common Core language arts, math, and science standards.

    • Complete visual arts curriculum (12 lessons per grade K–8)

    • Access to online tutorials (videos, downloads, teaching aids)

    • Webinar/in-person or virtual training

    • Ongoing school support via school liaison

    • Option to purchase lesson-specific art materials (ARTboxes, Paper Plus boxes, etc.)

    • ARTboxes: Program-specific art supplies (e.g., paper, paints)

    • Paper Plus Boxes: Consumables, templates, visual aids

    • You can contact sales for a full materials list per grade.

  • You have flexibility.
    Schools can teach however many of the 12 lessons as their schedule allows. However, lessons are designed sequentially, so skipping many may affect scaffolding of skills across grades.

  • Typically 45–90 minutes. Some schools teach in one block (60 min) or split into two 45-minute periods. We also provide ideas for integrating parts of lessons into other subjects.

📚 Curriculum & Program Details

👩‍🏫 Training, Implementation & Volunteers

  • Classroom teachers, art teachers, or parent volunteers can teach.
    After subscribing, teachers/volunteers access training (in-person or online) to prepare.

    • The school appoints an Art in Action Coordinator (teacher/parent)

    • That coordinator recruits docents through school communications

    • Volunteers attend group training (in-person or webinar)

    • Training covers how to facilitate discussions, lead demonstrations, manage materials, and integrate with curricula

    • Training is not required but helpful, and each lesson has a video on how to teach that lesson

    • Learn guided discussion techniques (how to ask interpretive questions, facilitate observations)

    • Practice sketching, drawing, and clay techniques

    • Understand various art mediums and mini projects

    • Strategies for classroom setup, cleanup, and storage

    • Tips for weaving art into other subject areas

  • The annual subscription covers:

    • Right to use the Art in Action curriculum for selected grades / classrooms

    • Access to online resources, training workshops, and support

    • Option to purchase additional materials or customized training

  • Yes, you may purchase individual programs (K-8) rather than full package.
    Contact our sales team for pricing details.

  • Yes — many schools, afterschool programs, and organizations use our lessons outside core school hours (e.g. with Boys & Girls Clubs). Contact us for details.

  • Pricing depends on number of classrooms, grades, and whether you purchase materials. Please refer to our products page or reach out for a customized quote.

  • Funding often comes from district curriculum budgets, PTA/PTOs, CA Prop 28 or school foundations. Many schools also seek external grants or use our Scholarship program.

  • Yes — occasionally we offer grants to qualifying schools and run a Art in Action Scholarship program. Contact our team to see if your school is eligible.

  • The most cost-effective resource for K–8 art supplies is purchasing directly through our program. By leveraging a high-volume bulk-purchasing model and utilizing a dedicated volunteer network to assemble custom grade-level art kits, we are able to pass significant wholesale savings directly to schools.

    To fund these supplies, educational programs typically utilize three primary resources:

    • Prop 28 Funds: California public schools can fully utilize their state-allocated Proposition 28 arts education funding to purchase our kits.

    • Organization Scholarships: Schools facing budget constraints can apply directly through our site for financial assistance and supply scholarships.

    • Community Fundraising: Many participating programs successfully fund their kits through local PTA contributions and targeted school fundraisers.

📦 Access, Pricing & Funding

  • Art in Action Office
    Sobrato Center for Nonprofits
    330 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 147, Redwood City, CA 94065
    *We are open Monday-Friday 8 am - 5 pm PT

    Art in Action Warehouse
    1755 E Bayshore Rd, Suite 25A, Redwood City, CA 94063

    Our programs serve over 255 schools nationwide.

  • Yes — learn more about our Referral Program.

  • Absolutely! Click “Ask a Question” or email us — we’ll consider adding your question to this page.

☎️ Contact & Other Logistics

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