FOCUS ON ART EDUCATION

the department of education created a new committee to advise department officials on art instruction.

the new 12-member arts advisory committee will also issue an annual report on how well the city provides arts education. the committee, which includes teachers, principals, higher education professionals and arts community leaders, will meet twice a week. diane volk, who taught an orchestral, vocal and concert band program at louis d. brandeis high school, was named a member.

the committee will present its first set of recommendations, to be included in the annual "arts in schools report," at the june meeting of the panel for education policy.

"this type of diverse civic engagement is just what our schools need to improve the academic achievement of our children through the arts," said east side state sen. jose serrano.

serrano, chair of the state senate's cultural affairs committee, was pushing to create a similar arts committee through the legislature. his bill, co-sponsored by east side assembly member jonathan bing, passed the state senate but had yet to advance in the assembly.