Current CAS enrollees: access this year's workshop documents, photos, and more in the 2011-12 CAS Teacher Lounge.

Applications for CAS 2012-13 are accepted through June 22, 2012 on a first-come, first-served basis.

Join a diverse cohort of teachers from across Los Angeles County to explore contemporary art and classroom connections over the course of a full school year. In addition to professional development that supports individual growth and sustained relationships among teachers and MOCA staff, Contemporary Art Start also includes two class visits to the museum, flexible, standards-based classroom curriculum, and family involvement programs. No background in art is required (but certainly welcome).

Choose your CAS

Contemporary Art Start now offers three tracks of specialized professional development for:

• 3rd-12th grade generalist and academic classrooms
• secondary art classrooms
• cross-disciplinary work in visual art-focused high schools. See below for specific schedules and costs.

Benefits/features for all CAS teachers:

• up to 40 hours of professional development per year
• two LAUSD salary points for first-year participants or 3 credit units at CSULA (sep. fee payable to CSULA
• printed CAS Curriculum Guide and images in a variety of formats
• two guided museum visits for students
• free spring bus for public schools (schools are responsible for the fall bus)
• MOCA membership for participating teachers and school principal
• yearlong family passes for participating students

All teachers participating in CAS for the first time are required to attend the 4- or 5-day  Rebecca Smith Summer Institute (see dates for specific tracks below). During this program, teachers dive headlong into the concepts and forms of contemporary art through dynamic discussions, practice teaching sessions, and hands-on projects.  Primary emphasis is placed on inquiry-based teaching methods encountered in the CAS Curriculum Guide and during students’ museum visits over the year, as well as strategies for classroom implementation and cross-subject integration.

First-year and returning CAS teachers are required to attend Pre-Visit Workshops (one Saturday in the Fall and one Saturday in the Spring) prior to class visits. Pre-Visit Workshops enable teachers to preview the exhibition their students will be seeing, to discuss pre- and post-visit teaching strategies, and to refresh their inquiry teaching skills. Teachers also create an exhibition-related studio project they can implement in the classroom. 

Professional development schedules by CAS track

3rd-12th grade generalist and academic teachers:

Mandatory 2012-13 teacher professional development dates:
Summer Institute (for new CAS teachers only): July 18–21 (4 days), 8:30am–4pm
Fall Pre-Visit Workshop: Saturday TBA, 8:30am–3pm
Spring Pre-Visit Workshop: Saturday TBA, 8:30am–3pm

Total professional development hrs/credit:
New CAS teachers: 34 hrs; 2 LAUSD salary points or 3 CSULA credits available (sep. fee payable to CSULA)
Returning CAS teachers: 10 hrs

Cost: $110 per teacher, plus the cost of fall bus (MOCA will cover the cost of spring buses for public schools.)

Requirements:
New and returning school principals must attend the July 18 Summer Institute training (8:30am–4pm).
Teachers can enroll singly (up to 60 students per visit) or in pairs (combined total of 60 students per visit).
Teachers must attend professional development sessions in order to bring students for museum visits.

Secondary art teachers:

Mandatory 2012-13 teacher professional development dates:
Summer Institute (for new CAS teachers only): July 12–13 and 18–20 (5 days), 8:30am–4pm
Fall Pre-Visit Workshop: Saturday TBA, 8:30am–3pm
Spring Pre-Visit Workshop: Saturday TBA, 8:30am–3pm

Total professional development hrs/credit:
New CAS teachers: 40 hrs; 2 LAUSD salary points or 3 CSULA credits available (sep. fee payable to CSULA)
Returning CAS teachers: 10 hrs

Cost: $110 per teacher, plus the cost of fall bus (MOCA will cover the cost of spring buses for public schools.)

Requirements:
New and returning school principals must attend the July 18 Summer Institute training (8:30am–4pm).
Teachers can enroll singly (up to 60 students per visit) or in pairs (combined total of 60 students per visit).
Teachers must attend professional development sessions in order to bring students for museum visits.

Interdisciplinary teams from visual art-focused high schools:

Mandatory 2012-13 teacher professional development dates:
Summer Institute dates (for all participating teachers): August 2–3, 6–7 (4 days), 8:30am–4pm
Fall Pre-Visit Workshop: Saturday TBA, 8:30am–3pm
Spring Pre-Visit Workshop: Saturday TBA, 8:30am–3pm

Total professional development hrs/credit:
New and returning CAS teachers: 34 hrs; 2 LAUSD salary points or 3 CSULA credits available (sep. fee payable to CSULA)

Cost: $600 per cadre of up to five teachers, plus the cost of fall bus (MOCA will cover the cost of spring buses
for public schools.)

Requirements:
Principal must attend the August 2 Summer Institute training (8:30am–4pm).
At least four (five maximum) teachers must attend, representing at least four different subject areas.
Teachers must attend professional development sessions in order to bring students for museum visits.

For more information about the goals, philosophy, and methodology used in Contemporary Art Start, click here.

INFO 213/621-1706 or jhoel@moca.org