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Center for Instructional Support

Arts & Cultural Vitality Index

  1. I. Overview
  2. II. Opportunities
  3. III. About the Resource
  4. IV. Video Testimonials
  5. V. Downloadable Version of Resource

I. Overview:

In support of sustaining a creative and inclusive school climate, DESE is working as a partner to support schools with using its Arts & Cultural Vitality (ACV) Index. This resource is a voluntary self-evaluation schools can use to examine their unique arts and cultural assets. The ACV Index details a structure for identifying areas of strength, and pinpointing opportunities to advance the arts and cultural vitality within the school community.

II. Opportunities

Funding Opportunity

To view the current grant program funding opportunity 'Supporting Arts & Cultural Vitality Teams', please visit DESE's RFP posting here.

Grant Information Session

Interested applicants can register below to attend one of the two optional upcoming sessions detailing the resource and grant. Information shared will be posted here after the events:

  • Monday, October 05, 2026; 4:00–4:45 p.m. Virtual
  • Wednesday, October 07, 2026; 4:00–4:45 p.m. Virtual

Register for an information session .

Learning Opportunities

ACV Index Professional Learning Community:
Required of grant recipients, Open to all MA arts programs

It is required of grant recipients to send at least one representative to the PLC sessions. Typically, this is the grant facilitator's role.

All Tracks:
Launch Meeting: Monday, November 09, 2026, 4:00–5:30 pm
We highly encourage all grant applicants to save-this-date. Selected awardees may receive short notice of acceptance just prior to the launch, so the grant "facilitator" should anticipate this required attendance in advance.

Track 1:

PLC:

  • Session 1: Wednesday, December 09, 2026, 3:45–5:00 pm
  • Session 2: Wednesday, January 27, 2027, 3:45–5:00 pm
  • Session 3: Wednesday, March 17, 2027, 3:45–5:00 pm
  • Session 4: Wednesday, April 28, 2027, 4:00–5:00 pm

Tracks 2, 3a, and 3b:

PLC:

  • Session 1: Wednesday, December 09, 2026, 4:30–5:30 pm
  • Session 2: Wednesday, January 27, 2027, 4:30–5:30 pm
  • Session 3: Wednesday, March 17, 2027, 4:30–5:30 pm
  • Session 4: Wednesday, April 28, 2027, 4:00–5:00 pm

III. About the Resource:

The ACV Index is a resource that:

  • Provides a voluntary, self-evaluation tool schools can use to examine their unique arts and cultural assets.
  • Supports a 'sustaining' creative and inclusive school climate
  • Details a structure for identifying areas of strength
  • Pinpoints opportunities to advance the arts and cultural vitality within the school community

The resource is comprised of rubrics that address Four Levers by which to examine School Arts & Culture.

Lever One: Infrastructure

  • Examines systems and structures in place for implementing culturally sustaining practices, routine procedures, policies, and provisioning for successful arts and culture programming and services, as well as processes in place to remove historically inequitable barriers to learning.

Lever Two: Opportunity

  • offers students, families, and staff rich opportunities to learn and engage through arts and culture. They ensure that all school members have access and equity in arts and culture programming and services both in and out of school.

Lever Three: Participation

  • has a high level of engagement, and active and equitable participation in arts and culture programming and services by all members of the school community.

Lever Four: Impact

  • evaluates arts and culture programming and services by the effect they have on the community, particularly on student learning, educator effectiveness, and school climate outcomes, and has evidence of significant, positive, and equitable impact.

IV. Video Testimonials:

Featured Video— A Superintendent's Perspective

V. The Arts & Cultural Vitality Index for Massachusetts Schools

Updated January 2026. Click the link above to download a Word document of the complete resource.

Last Updated: September 9, 2026

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