P.S. ARTS launches free 2026–2027 Artist Educator Connect season

P.S. ARTS is opening its 2026–2027 Artist Educator Connect series on Oct. 8 with a free virtual session on differentiated learning in arts education. The season will cover arts integration, culturally responsive teaching, career pathways and Prop 28 as California schools continue to expand arts instruction.

Why it matters: - P.S. ARTS is using a free virtual series to connect teaching artists, classroom teachers, arts education professionals and community partners. - The sessions are meant to share practical tools and build community across the arts education field. - The series comes as California schools continue implementing Prop 28, which directs roughly $1 billion a year to arts and music instruction in public schools.

What happened: - P.S. ARTS announced the 2026–2027 season of Artist Educator Connect, its free virtual conversation series. - The season opens Thursday, Oct. 8, at 3:30 p.m. PT with a session titled “Differentiated Learning in Arts Education.” - P.S. ARTS Associate Director of Education Development Jaime Reichner will lead the opening session. - Registration and the full season schedule are available at Artist Educator Connect.

The details: - Reichner’s session will focus on practical strategies for reaching students with different abilities, learning styles and language backgrounds through the arts. - Participants are expected to leave with approaches they can use in classrooms and programs. - The season will also cover arts integration, culturally responsive teaching, career pathways into arts education and Prop 28. - Each session is designed to create space for candid conversation about the opportunities and challenges facing artists and educators. - The series is open to artists, educators, arts education professionals and anyone interested in the role of the arts in education.

Between the lines: - P.S. ARTS is positioning Artist Educator Connect as both a professional learning space and a field-building effort. - The mix of topics suggests the organization is responding to pressure points in arts education, including staffing, equity and how schools use new arts funding. - Free access lowers barriers for participation and helps broaden the audience beyond a single school or district. - CEO John Lawler said the series is an opportunity to learn from one another, build community and explore new possibilities for how the arts can support every student.

What's next: - The Oct. 8 session will kick off the new season. - Additional sessions will continue across the 2026–2027 year on the announced topic areas. - P.S. ARTS says the series is part of its broader effort to strengthen the arts education field by bringing artists, educators and communities together.