By Thanks to a partnership with the Los Altos-based David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Cultural Initiatives Silicon Valley, a non-profit grant-making arts organization, will be able to increase funding for arts education in Santa Clara County's public elementary schools.

In recent years, Cultural Initiatives has provided $1 million to 40 percent of local public elementary school districts. With the additional $2.1 million from the Packard Foundation, the organization will reach all eligible schools applying for arts education grants, supporting 74 percent of all elementary school districts in the county.

Cultural Initiatives Silicon Valley hopes to extend the program to all qualified schools not yet participating by 2002, and also begin funding middle schools.

The organization also provides customized technical assistance to each participating school. An experienced arts education mentor will spend up to 20 hours per month during the school year to assist each school with program implementation.