Volunteer Teachers for Schools?

Aug. 25 -- In Washington, D.C., teenagers on a youth philanthropy council make grants to community arts programs and activities — one way to help make up for a loss of government funding.

"It's really important," said David Stewart, 16, who sits on the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region's youth council. "Especially for programs like dance. There are not a lot of dance programs in the schools."

The foundation just announced $64,000 in youth-to-youth grants this month to arts and other cultural programs, such as a teen-led dance and community-outreach program that teaches teens about the body and choreography.

It's just one example of community groups and volunteers trying to fill the need for arts programs and extracurriculars that are cut or reduced from school budgets.

Principals in Milwaukee are asking local artists to donate their time for classroom instruction. In Columbia, S.C., local zoo officials say they'll bring as many animals and insects to the classroom as health officials will allow to make up for canceled field trips. A booster club in Chenoa, Ill., is raising money to pay for slashed extracurricular activities. A Rock the School concert brought in $1,100 to reinstate football, volleyball and the school yearbook.

In New York City, where junior high school arts classes will be cut to make room for more reading and math, a network of arts-loving professionals is starting up a summer arts education program.

Called Art4now, the program's goal is to recruit artists and teachers to work with children in four disciplines — dance, sculpture, spoken word, and visual arts — for four weeks starting next summer.

Wilson Aguilar, Art4now fund-raiser and director of special events for the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, says he's been impressed with the response from individuals wanting to join the cause.

"It's a call to action to the community, the community being New York or the community these kids come from," Aguilar said.