20th CAPP Cohort Begins Their Work

August 15, 2025

On August 13, the new CAPP cohort met for the 2025-2027 Kick-Off Conference. This day marked the beginning of each district’s work to address the education policies, programs, and partnerships that will impact student opportunities in the arts in their local districts and communities.

The 2025-2027 award recipients for CAPP: Academias La Paz, Alexandria Public Schools, Big Lake Schools, Brainerd Public Schools, International Spanish Language Academy, Inver Grove Heights Schools, Kasson-Mantorville Schools, Little Falls Community Schools, and Waconia Public Schools.

Overarching goals of the Kick-Off Conference centered around building community amongst members of this new cohort and setting the stage for their work. Detailed discussions focused on the K-12 Minnesota Academic Standards in the Arts, developing an arts program analysis, and using data in their work.

Districts and charter schools were accepted into the 2025-2027 cohort last spring by competitive application. They include:

• Academias La Paz
• Alexandria Public Schools
• Big Lake Public Schools
• Brainerd Public Schools
• International Spanish Language Academy
• Inver Grove Heights Public Schools
• Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools
• Little Falls Community Schools
• Waconia Public Schools

The 2025-2027 award recipients are CAPP’s 20th cohort since the program began.

The program is led by Kristi Johnson, Perpich Center’s CAPP Specialist. Following the conference, Kristi reflected, “I was excited to finally meet the new cohort! What a great group of people! They have a lot of energy and so many ideas for improving arts education in their communities. It’s time to get to work.”

The purpose of this legislatively-funded program is to support and assist a local school district’s arts planning team in creating a district-wide, three-year strategic arts plan. CAPP provides financial and technical assistance to guide the strategic planning process through workshops, site visits, leadership development, and resource materials.

Examples of arts education improvements through the CAPP planning process in school districts and communities include:

• Development of leaders in arts education
• Alignment of arts curriculum to the 2018 Minnesota Arts Standards
• Stronger school/community collaborations including partnership with arts and community organizations
• Professional development opportunities for district arts staff
• Policies adopted to support arts education

With the help of this Perpich Professional Development program, school districts form a CAPP committee of district and community stakeholders (arts specialists, administrators, parents, classroom teachers, community members, and/or students) with an active and wide-ranging interest in the arts and arts education. This local CAPP committee has the responsibility to create a comprehensive arts education plan.