Socio-economic factors also seem to influence Achievement Test scores, with economically disadvantaged students scoring 31 percent lower than non-economically disadvantaged students. This is a growing demographic comprised of financially limited-families, which are generally less exposed to artistic events, whether it be because of prohibitive entry costs, or because of lack of transportation to and from events, community centers, museums and theatres. Also, according to the California Alliance for Arts Education, “Disadvantaged and at-risk youth are often barred from school arts programs in favor of remedial instruction in reading and math. This practice contradicts research evidence that quality arts education provides even greater learning benefits to disadvantaged youth than their advantaged classmates.”

Conjunctively, economically disadvantaged students often study at institutions with their own fiscal constraints that are less able to provide access to quality arts and media education and exposure. “Of particular concern is the discrepant program cuts affecting lower socioeconomic students, mostly black and Latino, who historically have less access to music and arts programs. This is despite strong documentation that shows arts have measurable positive impact on students in high-poverty and urban settings.”

A common determinant of an at-risk educational institution is qualification for the Free/Reduced Meal Plan. In order to qualify, 40 percent of the school’s students must be at or below the poverty level. According to the Educational Demographics Office, in Los Angeles County for the 2004-2005 school year, 60.5 percent of the county’s schools qualified for Free/Reduced Meals, as compared to 49 percent in the rest of the state, expressing the considerable financial discrepancy between L.A. County students as compared to those in the rest of the state. This presents a large-scale opportunity for the FCH to partner with these schools to work with students through film screening, artist talks and workshops, and related analysis and composition assignments.
As noted in the table above, in Los Angeles County, 32.4 percent of the students were English learners. FCH will provide graphically-dependant or subtitled media in the schools thereby addressing 1/3 of the population’s educational arts requirements. “With Los Angeles County’s ever-expanding diversity, the arts serve as an essential bridge across language and cultural differences and build linkage, both within and between communities.”

The LA County ratio of credentialed arts teachers to students is 1:1200. As such more than 82 percent of the schools in the county use partnerships with non-profit organizations as means of providing arts education.

In the State of California, arts education is mandatory, but in Los Angeles County, especially in Free/Reduced Meal designated schools, resources to provide this education are limited. There is a statistically significant need for partnerships with non-profit organizations like the Foundation for Conscious Humanity. The FCH can raise levels of self- and social awareness in at-risk youth, providing a positive outlet for their creative energies and a vision of a rewarding future.