On February 14th, the Orange County Board of Education declared March 2013 as Arts Education Month in Orange County. The declaration recognizes that arts education is an essential part of basic education for all students K-12; that students derive many benefits from arts education; that arts education is part of California's education policy; and encourages communities to celebrate the arts.

STEM alone won't breed innovation (USA Today, February 5, 2013) There's no doubt in our technolory-driven times that we need plenty of graduates who can tackle such subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). But even technology wizards can become more innovative with a solid background in liberal arts. Consider the late Steve Jobs, who so-founded Apple. Jobs attended a calligraphy class at Oregon's Reed College.

With a new legislative session underway, critical decisions are being made that will impact the lives of California students. Young advocates can provide unique evidence of the vital role the arts play in their education. In the latest videos for the Student Voices campaign, students share the ways that the arts nurture imagination, confidence and creative self-expression.

The campaign runs until March 31, 2013 and invites students to make a video of two minutes or less that answers the question “Why do the arts matter?” and share it the legislators who represent them in Sacramento. Videos can be made individually or as a class, they can be recorded on a cell phone, laptop webcam or video camera. Watch the latest videos here and join the campaign here: http:// www.StudentVoicesCampaign.org

There's no doubt in our technology-driven times that we need plenty of graduates who can tackle such subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). But even technology wizards can become more innovative with a solid background in liberal arts.

Consider the late Steve Jobs, who co-founded Apple. Jobs attended a calligraphy class at Oregon's Reed College. Decades later, in a 2005 Stanford commencement address, Jobs recalled the course and said, "It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture."

Sir Ken Robinson: Fostering Creativity in Education is Not an Option

Esteemed education advocate Sir Ken Robinson explains in this short three minute video on why creativity is crucial in education, and why it will require a transformation in the way schools work.

In his words, “Creativity is not an option, it’s an absolute necessity.”

Esteemed education advocate Sir Ken Robinson explains in this short three minute video on why creativity is crucial in education, and why it will require a transformation in the way schools work.

In his words, “Creativity is not an option, it’s an absolute necessity.”

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/01/sir-ken-robinson-fostering-creativity-in-education-is-not-an-option/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=linkedin&goback=%2Egde_3259434_member_205435081

Our mission is to advocate for arts education for all students in every school community in Santa Cruz County.

We envision a core curriculum that provides sequential, standards-aligned arts education for every student.

We believe:

On October 9, Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education member Nury Martinez introduced a visionary and sweeping resolution to establish the arts as part of the district's core curriculum, placing it alongside math, reading, history, and science as essential components of a student's K-12 education. The resolution, titled "Student Achievement, Educational Equity, and Mastery of 21st Century Workforce Skills through Arts at the Core," makes a comprehensive argument for the arts' place at the table, citing the wealth of research on the impact of arts-rich education on student success within and beyond their K-12 education. After hearing public comment from actor and esteemed collector of Latin American art Cheech Marin; actress, philanthropist, and parent Monica Rosenthal; former teacher of the year Carlos Lauchu; Boeing executive Jim Herr; Los Angeles County Arts for All's director Denise Grande; education funder Matty Sterenchock; and students from Carlos Santana Arts Academy, the board responded by approving the resolution unanimously.