THE ARTS IN EDUCATION FEDERAL PLAN TO PUT ARTS IN SCHOOLS FLAWED.(Life & Leisure)

Byline: DONALD ROSENBERG Scripps Howard

This is the second in a series of articles about the arts and the schools.

A federal plan to establish break- the-mold schools that use innovative approaches generated plenty of academic excitement last year, but in fact the America 2000 Arts Partnership has a serious drawback.

Just as basic curricular requirements are mandated by each state, the presence of arts education in public schools is determined largely on a local basis.

In other words, the federal government gives little more than symbolic support to education - of any sort. Federal money to public schools has never exceeded seven percent, which means at least 93 percent comes from states and localities.

Francie Alexander, deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Educational Research and Improvement at the U.S. …