Developing Our Youth Through Arts Education The Arts Make the Difference
Cities that invest in the arts will thrive, those that don t will stagnate. Julian Castro, Mayor San Antonio, Texas
A strong, vibrant and sustainable arts community in San Antonio is supported through engagement, participation and education. As an independent advocate organization for the arts in San Antonio, theartsfund has raised funds to connect the community to the arts through operational support to affiliated art organizations. Now, our focus is broadening as we explore how to increase arts education for every student in our community. theartsfund looks to work with established education institutions to equip teachers with resources and access to advanced STEAM (STEM + Arts) training while advocating for arts education with local arts organizations and institutions.
Students At Risk=Future At Risk The San Antonio Area Foundation reported: At risk and low income youth often miss out on opportunities for meaningful exposure to the arts. ¹ Children who may have limited appreciation of the arts as adults could decrease the demand and support for future arts programs. ¹ Arts in the schools grows arts appreciation and builds future audiences and supporters of the arts. ¹
Where the Gaps Are? Six out of 17 School Districts in Bexar County are economically disadvantaged: 80 + % of families with children in school, fall below the 85% of the poverty line. Economically disadvantaged students score dramatically lower in STAAR testing than noneconomically disadvantaged students. Students in San Antonio do not have equal access to arts education. o http://www.cityyear.org/sanantonio http://datacenter.kidscount.org/locations
SA2020 report shows that only 18% of 3 rd grade students tested in 2012 achieved reading scores at the advanced level. The SA2020 goal is 80%. http://www.sa2020.org/progress_type/education/ March 2013
This 2020 study shows that only 73% of 3 rd grade students had satisfactory reading scores in 2012 state testing. An increase of 22% is required to meet this goal in the next 5 years. http://www.sa2020.org/progress_type/education/3rd-grad e-reading-met-passing/
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By comparison, economically disadvantaged students score dramatically lower in STAAR testing in Reading than non-economically disadvantaged students. http://datacenter.kidscount.org/locations
http://datacenter.kidscount.org/locations
By comparison, economically disadvantaged students score dramatically lower in STAAR testing in Math than non-economically disadvantaged students. http://datacenter.kidscount.org/locations
STAAR Science scores for Bexar County students rank below Texas student averages at both 5 th and 8 th levels. http://datacenter.kidscount.org/locations
Arts Closes the Gap Students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds with high-arts educational experience, significantly outperformed peers from a low-arts, low-socioeconomic (SES)background, closing (and in some cases eliminating) the gap that often appears between low-ses students and their more advantaged peers. 2012 report from the National Endowment for the Arts
Arts Integrated Education Impact on Student Performance
Stem + A = Steam When the Arts join, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Photo: Sydney Combs. The values behind arts integration collaboration, flexible thinking, and disciplined imagination lead to the capacity to innovate. ~ Yo-Yo Ma A. Arts integrated curriculum has turned around low performing schools. B. Arts training can change motivation, which lead to changes in attentional focus. This change in attentional focus, increases performance in a variety of cognitive tasks. C. Arts integration can increase teacher retention and ~ engagement.
Arts Impact: Science Visual Arts integrated with science programs has shown to increase ability to use evidential reasoning. Employing Art joins visualization to problem solving. Students involved in arts are 4 times more likely to participate in a science fair, increasing engagement and attentional focus. http://www.artsedsearch.org/students/research-by-age-level/elementary-school
+Arts Impact:Technology Nobel Laureates recognized for their contributions to technology are 17 times more likely to be actively engaged in the arts than average scientists. 90% of Nobel Laureates, have expressed the opinion that the arts should be part of every students education. 80% of them cited specific ways in which their arts training directly enhanced their innovative ability. Root Bernstein, R. S. The Art of Scientific and Technological Innovations. 11 Apr 2011.
+Arts Impact: Math Mathematics Music students outperformed control groups in mathematic computation, application, and comprehension. Sustained participation in arts-integrated instruction has a greater impact on mathematics achievement. Students in weekly piano instruction score higher on tests measuring abstract thinking used to solve multi-step problems. http://www.artsedsearch.org/summaries/effects-of-music-instruction-on-developing-cognitive-systems-at-the-foundations-ofmathematics-and-science#sthash.6bc4zvqt.dpuf
Arts Impact: Literacy Literacy Students participating in arts integrated dance and theatre based instruction Improves Reading Readiness Increased Fluency Increased Comprehension Faster improvement than general reading programs Develops improved writing ability http://createquity.com/2011/07/arts-policy-library-critical-links.html
Social Benefits of Arts Education Enjoyment of learning, and thinking, motivate further achievement. Greater self-confidence, sense of self-worth and selfesteem. Less emotional and behavioral problems: less aggressive and violent behavior in participating students. Build collaboration, teamwork, improved communication, and increased understanding of diverse cultures. Patience and persistence. The ability to listen. Strengthens work ethic. Lipman, Joanne. Is Music the Key to Success? NY Times. Oct. 2013.
Models of Success-Community Partnerships for Arts in Education Big Thought, a Dallas non-profit, acts as a liaison between arts organizations and school districts. The partnerships created provide resources for teachers that are otherwise unavailable and increases student accessibility to community arts programs. Big Thought s Thriving Minds program is successful due to its implementation in and out of the classroom. A longitudinal study of Thriving Minds students showed that those who participated consistently met or exceeded their peers on [TAKS reading and math] standardized tests. http://www.bigthought.org/about-thriving-minds
Other Models of AIE Success Mind POP Austin, TX. -Creative Alliance - est. 2009 ensures each and every student benefits from creative learning. BPS Arts Expansion- Boston, Launched in 2009, - coherent, sustainable approach to quality arts education for all Boston Public School (BPS) students. Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education(CAPE). Formed in 1992, CAPE quickly became recognized as a leader in school improvement through the arts. Arts For All Los Angeles, CA. est. 1998 Creativity in every classroom. Empowering L.A.County schools to prepare all students for the workforce of tomorrow. The Right Brain Initiative. Portland, OR. Regional Arts & Culture Council is the Right Brain Initiative s managing partner. Est. 2008 it promotes whole brain learning... preparing our children for a future of full-tilt imagination and big ideas.
Economic Impact of the Arts San Antonio s Creative Industry Impact= $4,586,969,673
How the arts build our economy: Revitalize neighborhoods and catalyze development Enhance education and provide life-long learning Celebrate cultural diversity Attract visitors and residents Attract and retain a creative workforce Urban Renaissance Luncheon, 2013
Economic Impact of Education a skilled workforce is key to economic growth and education is vital to creating that workforce. ~Mayor Julian Castro Our future success depends on the investment we make in educating our kids now. For San Antonio to stay a great place to do business, we have to make smart choices about educating our future workforce. That is the only viable longterm plan for success. ~State of Texas Children 2012
Conclusions- The arts help all students to succeed in school and in life; The arts serves as a method to reach all students regardless of individual abilities or backgrounds. Quality arts education programs have a greater likelihood of being a part of the school curriculum when school and community leaders have come together to make that goal a reality.
What We Know- San Antonio currently does not have a demonstrated partnership which connects schools to arts organizations. Pre-K 4 SA does not have artistic programming or publicized plans to use community organizations for artistic enlightment. This current lack of a defined community component is important, as not only does Pre-K 4 SA pride itself on being communally focused but educators also consider it essential for student success. SA2020 Indicator Alignment- The most effective way to increase arts participation within the next seven years is to increase parental engagement with the child at community organizations and events. A potential method of doing so would be to add a stipulation about attending a community arts and/or cultural event each semester within the existing Pre-K 4 SA parent-teacher commitment contract.
Putting the A in STEM By establishing thefund as a regional program for the nationally recognized Wolf Trap Institute for Early Childhood STEAM Learning. By working with local arts organizations to develop and maintain a digital catalogue of the arts education programs and resources available to teachers. By working with school districts to identify specific programs to assist teachers in using art to advance learning and enhance student performance. By increasing access to and participation in the arts programs for school-aged children and their parents, By fundraising to support, advance, and grow art education programs, publicly and in the workplace, By advocating and promoting awareness throughout the workplace, and community of the value of arts in the enhancement of learning and skill development, By developing and sharing informational data supporting the value and impact of arts education to the viability of our community.