Sample Press Release

NEWS RELEASE

Your school/district letterhead
[school/district address]
[school/district phone]
[school/district fax]
[school/district website]

Contact:

[Your contact person]
[School or District]
[contact phone number]
[contact e-mail address]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [insert date]

Arts Learning in Action:
Celebrate Arts Education Month in March 2007!

[Your city] — The California State PTA and California Alliance for Arts Education are launching a statewide campaign to celebrate March as Arts Education month. Schools and school districts throughout California are highlighting arts learning in education through performances, exhibits, and classroom demonstrations. To celebrate arts learning in our community, [your school or district] has invited [Title and name of elected official] to attend [describe your event here] on [Date] at [Time and Place].
The objective of the Arts Learning in Action campaign is to raise awareness among state, county and local elected officials about the essential value of arts education in our schools.

Research shows that the arts are a critical link in student success. Our community believes we can demonstrate the value of arts education for our children by inviting decision-makers and elected officials into our classrooms to experience learning in the arts first-hand. [quote from your school/district and/or parent on this exciting opportunity to highlight arts education].
Spearheaded by California’s largest advocates for children and the arts, the California State PTA and the California Alliance for Arts Education (CAAE), the project is part of a grass roots effort to bring back the arts to California’s students.

— MORE —

"SMARTS - Bring Back the Arts" is a priority for the California State PTA and the California Alliance for Arts Education. The Arts Learning in Action campaign is a key strategy to educate and inform local and state elected officials as they consider policy decisions around arts education. "The PTA/CAAE collaboration exemplifies the mission of the Alliance, utilizing a statewide network and strategic partnerships to advocate for all arts for all students" said CAAE Director Laurie Schell. "The timing is right. With increasing public validation of the arts, it is now time to recognize arts education as a key ingredient of the school reform arsenal."

"The arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution and that questions can have more than one answer. The arts’ position in the school curriculum symbolizes to the young what adults believe is important." Elliot Eisner, Stanford University.

Over its 30 year history, CAAE has advanced its mission to "promote, support and advocate visual and performing arts education for preschool through post-secondary students in California schools."
The California State PTA, with over 1 million members, is the oldest and largest child advocacy organization in California.

[Insert information about your district and school here]