Parents argue a new district plan will strip fourth graders of instrumental opportunities and create “significant inequities.”
A growing coalition of parents within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) is calling for a halt to the proposed restructuring of the district’s elementary music program, citing concerns over a potential decline in instructional quality and equity and calling for more transparency.
In a petition on Change.org, the petition argues that the district’s plan, purportedly aimed at expanding general music access, would effectively gut the specialized instrumental pathways currently available to fourth and fifth graders. The proposal suggests shifting fourth-grade instruction to choir only, removing the option for students to begin learning specific instruments.
It claims that under the new model, district-wide music sections for fourth grade would be nearly halved, dropping from 48 to 27. Fifth-grade students would also see a reduction in sections and be placed into large, “non-homogeneous” ensembles, which parents claim will hinder effective teaching for students at different skill levels.
The petition highlights several critical points of contention:
- Staffing Inequities: The model would reportedly task roughly three teachers with serving as many as 1,500 students at Lincoln, 1,000 at JAMS, and 700 at SMASH/Will Rogers.
- Socioeconomic Barriers: Parents fear that without early instrumental training in school, students who cannot afford private lessons will be unable to reach the proficiency required for middle school programs.
- Funding Transparency: Critics question why Prop 28 and Measure R funds are not being utilized to maintain existing program depth while expanding breadth.
- Infrastructure Gaps: Many elementary campuses currently lack the physical space and instruments and supplies to support the proposed changes for younger grades.
There are two upcoming meetings regarding the plan and the changes:
VAPA District Advisory Committee (VAPA DAC) Meeting
- When: Wednesday, April 29th at 7:00 PM
- Where: SMMUSD District Office Board Room
- Note: The VAPA DAC is the Visual and Performing Arts District Advisory Committee, a group of parents, teachers, and community members tasked with advising the Board of Education on arts education policy.
Financial Oversight Committee (FOC) Meeting
- When: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 @ 6:00 p.m.
- Where: Malibu High School, 30237 Morning View Dr, Malibu, CA 90265, Parent Center, Room #C23
- Focus: This committee reviews whether this plan complies with the legal requirements of Measure R funding.
The agenda for the VAPA meeting on April 29 is here.
The agenda’s third discussion/action item states, “Elementary Music Curriculum update — Discussion of a proposal to expand the Elementary Music program to TK-2 while reducing staff, despite Measure R and Prop 28 funding; eliminating both 4th grade instrumental music and the Elementary Honor Orchestra and Elementary Honor Band that perform at Stairway of the Stars. The SMMUSD music program was used as the model music program in the state when Prop 28 passed.”
Item 7, labeled Media Coverage, has two press releases regarding the 75th Anniversary of the Stairway of the Stars and the change of Stairway to the Stars to SMMUSD Arts and Music Festival.
VAPA coordinator Dr. Jim Wang will reportedly be presenting his proposal at the meeting on April 29. In a letter to the SMMUSD parents, Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton confirmed that under this proposed model, strings and bands would begin in 5th grade instead of 4th grade. He added, “Please know that no final decisions have been made, and we remain committed to engaging our community during this process as we review our VAPA program and curriculum.”
