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THE VALUE OF ARTS EDUCATION

What is the value of arts education? What has been proved about integrating the arts into the classroom? How can we continue to provide arts education in our schools?

Arts education is often neglected in favor of other core subjects, such as math and science, but the No Child Left Behind Act recognizes the arts of a core academic subject.  Because of this, the arts are eligible for inclusion in teacher training, school reform, and technology.

The arts:

• Help close the achievement gap
• Boost learning and achievement for children, students from economically disadvantaged
  circumstances, and students needing remedial instruction
• Help prepare a creative workforce
• Serve as an essential skill for the future workforce

In addition:

• The arts are integral to a high quality of life in communities
• Young people who experience the arts will value and support the arts as adults
• Arts experiences develop awareness of a variety of cultures and perspectives
• Teachers who integrate their own arts experiences into instruction enhance student learning and
  better meet the needs of diverse learners

President Obama’s arts platform statement included support for arts education, stating that: “In addition to giving our children the science and math skills they need to compete in the new global context, we should also encourage the ability to think creatively that comes from a meaningful arts education.”  Now that’s some food for thought.

“The Muse Machine provides high-quality, customizable programming in the arts that connect to the core standards. Research is clear that students whose brains are engaged learn more, learn more easily and have increased recall. By engaging the learner in core content through the arts and teaching teachers to use multiple modalities to reach all students, The Muse Machine provides a high-caliber double-barreled boost for teaching and learning that sticks!

I’ve seen it work and you will too.”

Scott A. Spears

Ohio Race to the Top Central Region Coordinator

Ohio Department of Education

former superintendent, Springfield City Schools