The year-long Community of Practice brings together organizations representing different parts of the arts educator pathway, including higher education institutions, school districts and county offices of education, community-based arts organizations, and other workforce partners. Rather than developing solutions in isolation, members learn from one another, examine promising practices already underway, and identify barriers that make it difficult for teaching artists and aspiring educators to enter and remain in the profession.

Through facilitated learning sessions, peer exchange, and data collection, the CoP is exploring issues such as recruitment, certification and credentialing, educator preparation, regional workforce needs, and innovative pathways including residency and apprenticeship. The work is intentionally focused on both immediate challenges and longer-term systems change. The Residency Lab will capture challenges, case studies, and recommendations and translate that learning into resources that can inform practitioners, policymakers, funders, and other partners working to strengthen California’s VAPA educator workforce.