Prepared by Kim Leavitt, Director of Arts Education, Tennessee
Arts Commission
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The power behind the U.S. economy is its creative class ;
scientists, artists, engineers, technologists, and designers, to
name a few. The creative sector accounts for nearly half of
American wage income, but the U.S. is suddenly in danger of losing
its edge. -Richard Florida, Harvard Business Review, February
2004.
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Current Landscape
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The current U.S. public education system was designed to meet
the needs of a World War I economy. We now exist in a global
marketplace. Education in America
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A 21 st century world demands that human beings be able to
think for themselves; create new ideas; work in teams ; be
innovative ; and possess the imagination to design future
technologies and resources that we cant even envision yet. The Arts
teach these skills The Arts teach these skills. No other subject
does.
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Why Students need the Arts
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High school students who take arts classes have higher math and
verbal SAT scores than students who take no arts classes. -The
College Board Research Proves Arts Education Works Research Proves
Arts Education Works Dance & music impact brain development in
young children and have a profound impact on coordination and
literacy. - The Dana Foundation
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The arts greatly impact the developmental growth of each child
and are the equalizer among socio-economic boundaries. - The UCLA
Imagination Project The Arts have a measurable impact on at risk
youth in deterring delinquent behavior and truancy problems while
also increasing overall academic performance. - U.S. Dept. of
Justice & the National Endowment for the Arts
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Students who participate in the arts are... academic
achievement 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic
achievement elected to class office 3 times more likely to be
elected to class office math and science fair 4 times more likely
to participate in a math and science fair school attendance 3 times
more likely to win an award for school attendance writing an essay
or poem 4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or
poem - Living the Arts Through Language + Learning, Americans for
the Arts Monograph
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THE ARTS IN TENNESSEE SCHOOLS
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The U.S. Department of Education considers the arts core
academic subjects equal to math, science, reading, civics,
economics, history, foreign language and geography. Yet, many
Tennessee schools & districts have cut funding for the
arts.
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The arts in Tennessee schools Legislation passed by the
Tennessee General Assembly in 2008 encourages schools to fully
implement art and music and integrate them into other core academic
subjects. - Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10
Encourages, not requires.
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The Tennessee State Department of Education does not require or
monitor arts instruction in public schools. It is left to each
school district to determine if the arts will be taught and how
often. No State Mandate
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High school graduates must have one fine arts credit to
graduate. Most states require two. The majority of Tennessee
elementary schools provide art or music once a week for 30-45
minutes. Math, science, and other subjects are taught every day.
What Tennessee Schools Provide
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Value Plus Schools One Example Making a Difference : Value Plus
Schools In 2006, the Tennessee Arts Commission established Value
Plus Schools, an arts integration program piloted in six Title I,
high poverty schools. Teachers in Value Plus Schools are trained to
integrate the arts into other subjects so that students learned
math, science, and other content through the arts every day. Within
3 years, all six schools experienced dramatic changes in academic
achievement, student self- esteem, teacher retention & parental
involvement. In 2006, the Tennessee Arts Commission established
Value Plus Schools, an arts integration program piloted in six
Title I, high poverty schools. Teachers in Value Plus Schools are
trained to integrate the arts into other subjects so that students
learned math, science, and other content through the arts every
day. Within 3 years, all six schools experienced dramatic changes
in academic achievement, student self- esteem, teacher retention
& parental involvement.
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After only one year in the Value Plus program, one school saw
math scores increase from 86% proficient to 91%. After three years,
students tested 100% proficient in math. After only one year in the
Value Plus program, one school saw math scores increase from 86%
proficient to 91%. After three years, students tested 100%
proficient in math. Value Plus Schools
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For economically disadvantaged students, Value Plus has closed
the achievement gap. Four of the six schools saw test scores in
math and reading increase an average of 6-10 percentage points each
year.
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These results were accomplished because schools chose to make
the arts an integral part of the curriculum every day. Think of
what would happen if every school embraced the arts embraced the
arts.
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National research and programs such as Value Plus Schools prove
the arts are critical to educating the whole child. Doesnt your
child deserve a complete education? National research and programs
such as Value Plus Schools prove the arts are critical to educating
the whole child. Doesnt your child deserve a complete
education?
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Play a Part: Support the Arts in Schools Add your voice to
ongoing advocacy efforts. Join Tennesseans for the Arts, our
statewide advocacy organization. www.tn4arts.org
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For more information, contact: Tennesseans for the Arts at
www.tn4arts.org Tennessee Arts Commission at
www.arts.state.tn.us
