November 11, 2009
21st 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 9, 2009
Help Indiana Teachers Maintain High Educational Standards
Indiana teachers, students, and citizens are facing a serious situation in teacher certification. A reform effort by the Indiana Department of Education seeks to eliminate early childhood certification and bilingual education, mandate caps that reduce teacher education programs by 50-75%, and enforce a narrow interpretation of reading and language arts instruction upon literacy curricula in schools of education that all but does away with any form of “nontraditional” literacy including drama and theatre within education.
Find more information and how you can help here. Your aid is urgently needed to protect educational standards in Indiana.
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
October 2-3, 2009
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.
