This Speaker's Task Force on Arts Education report indicates that arts programs in California schools are on the decline. A drop in student enrollment in the arts and school expenditures for the arts is exacerbated by budget crises that result in cuts to existing art programs. Although a general lack of comprehensive and integrated arts education programs has fostered a rise in community-developed programs in some areas, poorer districts have little access to visual and performing arts classes or programs. The Task Force presents four goals for visual and performing arts education in California: (1) Every student should have equal access to instruction in the visual and performing arts, grades K-12; (2) Students should be required to have instruction and experience in both elementary and high school; (3) California should assure that districts have funds from all sources in amounts that provide students with access to instruction and experiences in the visual and performing arts; and (4) The quality of visual and performing arts programs in terms of teacher qualifications and subject content should be equal to instruction in other basis subject areas. To achieve these goals the task force offers recommendations for legislative review and action which include: (1) stipulation that arts education be a required course of study of all students from kindergarten through secondary level; (2) elimination of the option of pursuing other subject matters in lieu of art education; (3) establishment of a State Department of Education Council on Arts Education; (4) mandating local school districts to work with the state to develop and implement a plan for a comprehensive and balanced visual and performing arts education program; (5) directing a review of expenditures for visual and performing arts education and comparing these expenditures with other core subject areas; (6) directing a review of teacher preparation at the postsecondary level to examine preparation for art teaching and requiring arts education as credentialing requirement for all teachers; (7) allocating resources to strengthen community-based arts resources; and (8) acknowledging course study, grades, and achievement in arts education as a qualifying factor in admissions requirements to the University of California and California State University. (MM)