ADVOCACY RESOURCES for ARTS EDUCATION 2013

The following resources provide data and information about the status of arts education in California and U.S. K-12 schools to support local advocacy efforts. Most have been published recently.

"While schools often emphasize practices that focus upon single correct answers, life is not a multiple choice test. In life ambiguities need to be addressed. Alternatives need to be considered… Imagination needs to be called on. Our inability to anticipate the catastrophe that was 9/11, in spite of its many warnings, has been described by our political leaders as a failure of imagination. Isn't it ironic that the fields of work that most dramatically aim to develop imagination, the arts, should be so vulnerable when budgets are cut? Children need to learn that for almost any problem there are often multiple solutions possible—and sometimes none at all… In a test-driven school, imagination is likely to be seen as a distraction… To grasp multiple alternatives requires an act of the imagination."

– Elliot W. Eisner (2004). What the arts contribute to a child's development.

Keynote Address, California Educational Theatre Association Annual Conference.

CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL ADVOCACY & POLICY POSTINGS

http://www.cac.ca.gov/artsinfo/research.php

A linkable listing of many key arts education policy reports, studies and advocacy papers, all downloadable via PDF.

HOT OFF THE PRESS!!!

PREPARING STUDENTS for the NEXT AMERICA

http://www.aep-arts.org/

Colorful advocacy brochure featuring talking points (little hard data) on why the arts are essential to a quality education. Could be a useful handout for school board meetings, etc.

NEW ONLINE!!!

ARTS EDUCATION NAVIGATOR

http://www.americansforthearts.org/networks/arts_education/navigator.asp

A new series of arts ed e-books from Americans for the Arts. #1 details data showing

the impact of the arts on students, the decrease in the amount of funding and time

for the arts in schools, etc. Big, colorful charts.

EMBRACING ARTS EDUCATION TO ACHIEVE TITLE 1 GOALS

http://artsed411.org/blog/2013/04/embracing_arts_education_achieve_title_1_goals

California Alliance for Arts Education’s April 2013 policy paper on the status of arts

education in California schools. This is the first statewide study done since 2004.

THE ARTS AND ACHIEVEMENT IN AT-RISK YOUTH

http://www.nea.gov/research/Arts-At-Risk-Youth.pdf

Findings from four longitudinal studies by James Catterall and colleagues. Lots of data on the impact of arts education with low-income, marginalized children and youth.

WEBSITES with EXCELLENT ADVOCACY INFO:

• Americans for the Arts: http://www.artsusa.org/get_involved/advocate.asp

• California Assoc. for Arts Education (CAAE): http://artsed411.org/

• Arts Education Partnership (AEP): http://www.aep-arts.org

Also, look for the AEP state arts policy generator that details policy requirements state by state.

LOCAL RESOURCES:

THE ARTS in SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS:

Pájaro Valley USD

Current arts programs and professional development for teachers

http://www.pvusd.net/vapa

Arts Edge is the Kennedy Center’s free digital resource for teaching and learning through and about the arts.

Insiders Guide
This toolkit, created by the California Alliance, provides a hands-on, how-to planning process for schools, districts and counties, which enables them to assess, envision, and implement quality visual and performing arts programs for their students.

Toolkit for Winning School Board Support for Arts Learning

Keep Arts In Schools has introduced an advocacy toolkit to help make the case for arts learning as an essential component to quality education and community life. The online kit provides compelling data as well as real-life examples of how parents and other influential groups are successfully lobbying their school boards.

Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Santa Cruz County of Education serves the community, districts, schools, and teachers to support arts education in schools. The website features current programs and resources on the side tabs.

Arts Council Santa Cruz County
Arts Council Santa Cruz County promotes, connects, and invests in the arts in our county, through professional development and technical assistance, re-granting programs, through our arts education programs like SPECTRA and Mariposa's Art, and through other collaborations and initiatives. Find out more here!

Americans for the Arts
The Americans for the Arts Arts Action Center provides information on policy, research, legislative news, advocacy related events, and more!