August 23, 2010
AATE Appoints Executive DirectorAATE added impact at their national conference in San Francisco with the appointment of Lynne Kingsley as Executive Director.
July 27, 2010
House Passes "Arts in Education Week"Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Con.Res. 275, legislation designating the second week of September as "Arts in Education Week." Authored and introduced by California Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA), this resolution is the first Congressional expression of support celebrating all the disciplines comprising arts education. This is a very positive showing of support for arts education and comes at a key time when Congress is making plans to overhaul federal education policy. Send a message with your support for arts education to your member of Congress. You can link to the bill here.
July 15, 2010
The 21st Century Skills Map for the ArtsThe Partnership for 21st Century Skills released their 21st Century Skills Map at a Capitol Hill briefing. AATE proudly collaborated with P21 and other arts organizations in the creation of the map and its presentation to Congress. The 21st Century Skills Map for the Arts demonstrates how the three Rs and four Cs can be fused within arts curriculum. For more information about the Skills Map, click here.
April 14, 2010
Arts Advocacy Day - Get the Scoop Here!Access the exciting events from Arts Advocacy Day on Facebook or on the Americans for the Arts Website.
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As you can see, AATE was well represented on the Hill by President Rives Collins and Operations Manager Lynne Kingsley!
March 24, 2010
Are You Attending Arts Advocacy Day? Let Us Know! AATE would like to organize a get-together for members attending Arts Advocacy Day. If you'll be there, please contact Lynne to let her know. We'll see you there!
March 17, 2010
AATE a National Co-Sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day 
AATE will be a national co-sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day, which will take place April 12 - 13 on Capitol Hill. AATE will be advocating for you at the US ground zero of policy making! Click the illustration to learn more.
February 18, 2010
ESEA Reauthorization Meeting on Arts Education SummaryOn January 20, 2010, the United States Department of Education (ED) held a meeting for arts stakeholders to hear comments and suggestions regarding arts education and the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The meeting was hosted by Jim Shelton, Assistant Deputy Secretary of the Office of Innovation and Improvement, Carmel Martin, Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, and other senior ED staff. Over 60 individuals representing various local, state and national arts organizations, both governmental and nongovernmental, were in attendance.
Additionally, over 100 letters addressed to Secretary Duncan "from teachers, leaders of national and local organizations and businesses" were submitted "concerning the value of arts education in [the] nation’s schools." Read the summary of these letters, as well as specific recommendations from stakeholders relating to instruction, professional development, and accountability here.
January 21, 2010
First National Arts Index Measures Health and Vitality of the ArtsAmericans for the Arts unveiled the first National Arts Index on January 20. The Index, comprised of composed of seventy-six national-level research indicators, is the first study designed to measure the health and vitality of arts industries in the United States.
The National Arts Index fell four points in 2008 to a score of 98.4, reflecting losses in charitable giving and declining attendance at larger cultural institutions even as the number of arts organizations grew. This downturn was not wholly unexpected because arts industries largely track the nation’s business cycle. However, Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, says that rebound and recovery are expected to begin in 2011.
Americans for the Arts will soon assemble a companion Local Arts Index, which will help local leaders in 100 communities make better-informed decisions about arts and culture investments. January 15, 2010
New Reports: Arts Education Promotes Emotional IntelligenceTwo scholarly papers published in the latest issue of Arts Education Policy Review (Vol. 111, no. 1) examine current trends in arts education, what is being lost as a result of marginalization of the arts as part of those trends, and what can be done to slow or reverse these trends. One article notes that students whose education is dominated by rote learning will not be prepared for "the jobs of tomorrow"; the other explores the value of the arts in helping kids understand their emotions.
The author of the first article, “No Child Left Behind and Fine Arts Classes,” Tina Beveridge, discusses the obvious (school districts being judged on student test scores have little incentive to fund arts programs) and subtle (the courses that survive are classified as "fun," conveying the message that "the arts do not require skill, knowledge, commitment or work") ways a test-centric approach to education devalues arts instruction. She concludes that narrowing the focus of education to a few testable topics widens rather than closes “the achievement gap in education” (the original stated goal of the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act).
In the second article, "How the Arts Help Children to Create Healthy Social Scripts," Liane Brouillette defines what arts-deprived kids are missing—fundamental social skills, such as the ability to "persist in goal-oriented activity, to seek help when needed, and to participate in and benefit from relationships," specifically teamwork, collaboration, and cooperation.
Brouillette lauds theatre arts in particular, noting that "most drama activities were designed to explore narratives that were already covered in language arts or social studies texts. Through incorporation of creative drama, however, teachers felt that children experienced this familiar material in a deeper way. Acting out a scene required deeper exploration of the meaning of the words, and therefore led to better comprehension.”
November 11, 2009
21st Century Arts Skills MappingAATE, in collaboration with five other leading professional education associations, is working to create an Arts Skills Map for the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.
The partnership is the leading advocacy organization focused on incorporating into curricula the skills students need to engage with today's economy and civic life. The arts - dance, music, theatre, and visual arts - are core subjects in the partnership’s Framework for 21st Century Learning, as well as federal law.Also participating in this effort are the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), the National Association for Music Education (MENC), the National Art Education Association (NAEA), the National Dance Association (NDA), and the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO).
October 2-3, 2009
The Arts Education Partnership's Forum on Charting a Course for the Arts and 21st Century Learning
Read an update from from the forum, which includes information on recent initiatives and relevant reports and publications.
August 28, 2009
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Reinforces Importance of the Arts in Schools
An MP3 of the teleconference can be found at SupportMusic.com. However, the following six quotes are key to his view of the arts in education.
1. "The elementary and secondary education act defines arts education as a core subject."
2. "The 2008 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessment of music and visual arts ... reminded all of us that the arts are a part of a complete education and require kids to use creative and problem solving skills."
The Arts Education Partnership's Forum on Charting a Course for the Arts and 21st Century LearningRead an update from from the forum, which includes information on recent initiatives and relevant reports and publications.
August 28, 2009
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Reinforces Importance of the Arts in SchoolsAn MP3 of the teleconference can be found at SupportMusic.com. However, the following six quotes are key to his view of the arts in education.
1. "The elementary and secondary education act defines arts education as a core subject."
2. "The 2008 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessment of music and visual arts ... reminded all of us that the arts are a part of a complete education and require kids to use creative and problem solving skills."
3. "Arts education plays an essential part in children's education. It enriches their learning experience and builds skills that they can apply across the curriculum. The arts can play a significant role in programs that extend the school day and the school year."
4."As we think about No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorization ... I really want to think about how we can create incentives for folks not to narrow the curriculum, and continue to give a complete, comprehensive set of activities and experiences for children."
5. "Parents really have to push for this and demand it. And our job as educators is to listen to what parents and students are telling us."
6. "I'd push...three things: better recognizing and rewarding success and excellence and sharing those best practices, supporting the really creative and collaborative partnerships that create these opportunities for students, and really encouraging and empowering parents to make sure that this is the norm rather than the exception."
More information, including links, can be found here.
August 28, 2009
4."As we think about No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorization ... I really want to think about how we can create incentives for folks not to narrow the curriculum, and continue to give a complete, comprehensive set of activities and experiences for children."
5. "Parents really have to push for this and demand it. And our job as educators is to listen to what parents and students are telling us."
6. "I'd push...three things: better recognizing and rewarding success and excellence and sharing those best practices, supporting the really creative and collaborative partnerships that create these opportunities for students, and really encouraging and empowering parents to make sure that this is the norm rather than the exception."
More information, including links, can be found here.
August 28, 2009
National Day of Service and RemembranceIn accordance with provisions of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009, September 11, 2009, will be the first National Day of Service and Remembrance. The day is regarded as a pledge to continue service to the country while remembering and commemorating the extraordinary sacrifices made by ordinary Americans on that day eight years ago.
Americans for the Arts (AFA) is encouraging artists to participate by doing three things: first, do something that reflects the lessons learned on September 11, 2001; second, record your project on Arts USA's website, United We Serve, and/or at the 9/11 Day of Service website; and third, spread the word within your community about this national undertaking.
Artists in particular are being asked to participate in this commemorative day because of the active nature of their communities and their long history of volunteerism. Tying arts projects to this national commemorative day will showcase arts communities in volunteer efforts and demonstrate how the arts can and do make a difference in people's lives.
August 18, 2009
Secretary of Education Comments on the Importance of Arts in SchoolsUnited States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan expounded on the importance of the arts in education in a teleconference with the NAMM Foundation, following up his letter sent to school and education community leaders outlining the importance of the arts as a core academic subject in U.S. public schools.
