Arts in Education Program 2025-2026

The OCPS Arts In Education Fund is a contractual funding opportunity facilitated by Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) in collaboration with United Arts of Central Florida. This initiative allows for the allocation of county-provided funds to local arts organizations and artists who provide enrichment programming to K-12 students across the OCPS district. The funding process is managed annually, and partners must submit a fresh program proposal each year. This initiative is explicitly described as a contract for services, not a traditional grant, meaning allocation decisions are not guaranteed and are at the sole discretion of OCPS district leadership. Eligible participants include nonprofit organizations and individual teaching artists. For organizations, requirements include being a registered 501(c)(3) in good standing with the Florida Division of Corporations and the IRS, having a primary mission in the arts, sciences, or history, and having completed at least one year of operations. Their programming must be tailored to K-12 students, and they must meet specific clearance standards including the Lunsford Form and, if working on OCPS campuses, possession of a current OCPS Vendor Badge. Individual artists must be affiliated with an arts-based organization, hold a relevant bachelor’s degree, and have a verifiable record of artistic practice. They must also comply with the same clearance and vendor badge requirements. Proposals are accepted from March 3 to May 31, 2025. This window allows for adequate review and selection time by OCPS leaders so that programming can commence by the start of the 2025–2026 academic year in August. Applications are submitted through the UA Grant Portal, and selected programs must mirror their details on the United Arts Education Page. Compliance requirements include tracking and submitting evaluation responses, aligning programs with CPALMS standards, providing anecdotal documentation, and facilitating site visits. Invoices are submitted monthly by the 15th and must only include approved schools and programs. Additionally, 75 percent of participating educators must complete evaluation forms for invoices to be processed. Programs must manage their funding pool carefully, as any overages will not be reimbursed. Mismanagement of allocation balances is the responsibility of the partner program. For questions or technical issues, applicants should contact Jennifer Rae Paxton, Outreach Program Officer, via email at jen@unitedartscfl.org or phone at 407-636-5117. Required forms and systems for compliance, including the Lunsford Form, CPALMS standards, and the FDLE offender check, are accessible through the provided URLs. This structured, compliance-heavy funding model ensures that only vetted and capable partners deliver arts education to OCPS students.