How many times have we heard people groan about taxes? Lots.

What if it’s to support arts education in public schools? That was a different story in Portland, Oregon in 2012 when residents said, “YES! We’ll vote for that.” They overwhelmingly endorsed a measure that has restored art and music teachers in all the city’s elementary schools.

Passed by 62% of voters, the Arts Education and Access Fund, or “arts tax,” now ensures that all 36,213 K-5 students in Portland’s six school districts receive weekly instruction in the arts by certified music, visual art, dance or theatre teachers. Compare that to data from the 2011-12 school year that showed 11,596 K-5 public school students had no regular arts instruction in their schools. Shocking for a community like Portland that is known for its creative juice.

The annual $35 per person tax is currently raising approximately $9.1 million annually, with compliance improving over time. Ultimately, the tax is expected to raise $10 million each year, roughly $7,000,000 of which ensures an arts specialist for every 500 elementary school students. As of 2015-16, districts have beat that promise, providing an arts teacher for every 398 students across the city. This school year, the funding stream is paying for 72 K-5 arts teachers in our city’s school districts. As an example, Portland Public Schools (PPS), the largest district in Oregon, has more than tripled its arts teachers since the tax came into effect, growing from 15 teachers to 56.

The benefits don’t stop there. In addition to the stable supply of arts teachers for all children, it has helped school districts look systemically at arts education. PPS committed (on its own dime) to reinstating a long-vacated district-level position to support the arts. PPS Arts Coordinator Kristen Brayson noted, “When the school board discovered remaining gaps in arts education, they not only committed funds for my position, but also to ensure that the arts are available district-wide by investing in teaching positions for 6th-8th grade students not covered by the arts tax. This crucial step not only offers pathways for students to continue their arts learning, but specifically targets services for English language learners (ELL), students of color and those who live in the opportunity gap, a true investment in equity.”

The arts tax has helped several of Portland’s most under-resourced schools meet the needs of students. Consider the changing student demographics across the city where some schools report that ELL students make up as much as 40% of their enrollment. Rigler School, a K-5 dual language school, was able to hire a bilingual art teacher. At Sitton Elementary, absolutely no arts instruction of any kind was in place before the arts tax. Now the school has a dynamic full-time, bilingual visual art specialist who teaches in both Spanish and English, often only an opportunity for students at language immersion schools.

The ballot measure was also designed to provide about $3 million every year for the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) to provide stable public funding for arts organizations, and to invest in programs that help make the arts more accessible to every Portland resident. Thanks to the arts tax, 50 “general operating support” organizations now receive an average of 3.6% of their annual budgets from RACC, up from 2% in 2012. RACC will be able to move these organizations closer to the goal of 5% as collections improve. RACC is also setting aside $100,000 or more each year for a new “Arts Equity Grant,” which targets arts-related programs and services that reach underserved communities.

In Portland, we are well on our way to providing equity and access to the arts for the diverse members of our community. And now we can celebrate that all kids in all neighborhoods have the chance to learn and express themselves through the arts. For stories of this work happening in City of Portland schools throughout the next couple of weeks follow us on social media at #pdxlovesart.

Learn more about Portland’s arts tax success here.

Marna is a member of Americans for the Arts. Learn more.