Welcome to the EdTA Advocacy Update
December 18, 2015
The Advocacy Update is where you can find current national and state news concerning arts advocacy and arts education
EdTA NEWS
EdTA launches fall appeal: The Educational Theatre Association has launched its Make a Dramatic Impact Appeal for donations to help fund the organization’s mission and support the cause of theatre education nationwide. Theatre education is an essential component of learning, providing critical skills necessary for the academic and professional worlds in the 21st century. However, many theatre programs around the country face impoverishment and elimination, making the need for support more urgent than ever.
NATIONAL NEWS
Obama Signs Education Law Rewrite Shifting Power to States: Calling it a "Christmas miracle," President Barack Obama signed a sweeping overhaul of the No Child Left Behind education law on Thursday, ushering in a new approach to accountability, teacher evaluations and the way the most poorly performing schools are pushed to improve.
People's State of the Union: The People’s State of the Union is an invitation to supplement the President’s stories with our own, together hosting a national conversation in our own homes, schools, houses of worship, and community organizations. To change the world, we have to change the story! (U.S. Department of Arts and Culture)
STATE NEWS
Got state theatre and other arts education news you want to share? Send it to May mhetzer@schooltheatre.org
California: Children’s Creative Project Receives Leadership in the Arts Award (Noozhawk)
Illinois: Executive Director Ra Joy to Depart Arts Alliance Illinois in January (Broadway World)
Maine: Excellence in Maine Visual and Performing Arts Education celebrated (Boothbay Register)
Massachusetts: Boston Public Schools receive $1.5 million arts education grant from The Wallace Foundation (Boston.com)
Minnesota: Perpich Center for Arts Education begins a new arts integration professional development program (Albert Lea Tribune)
Missouri: Citizens for the Arts drops 1000 letters to the Governor (The Missouri Times)
Nevada: Super Summer announces theatre classes (ABC News)
New Jersey: Morris Arts offers two scholarship opportunities (Morris NewsBee)
New York: Bronx Dreams (The New Yorker)
Oklahoma: 'Musical Theatre Arts Education Day’ proclaimed by council (Examiner-Enterprise)
Oregon: Oregon Rep. Bonamici present for signing of landmark Every Student Succeeds Act (Portland Tribune)
Pennsylvania: Grace Norton Rogers School wins arts scholarship (centraljersey.com)
WORTH READING
Arts Based Learning of STEM Works Says NSF Funded Research Firm: After holding 60 workshops and putting those findings to work in 65 high schools, the results confirm what so many education experts believed: STEAM or in this case, Art Based Learning of STEM works and works beyond expectation. (Huffington Post Education Blog)
The Promise of Fairer School Spending: While most of the focus of advocates and lawmakers has been on state accountability systems, one provision championed by Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., bears note for its promise to drive more resources to schools serving students from low-income communities. (U.S. News)
These 5 Tips Will Help You Become a Championed Arts Advocate: In the arts, it seems as though we always have something on our advocacy schedule. We’re advocating for funding. We’re advocating for support. We’re advocating to be included in education and strategic plans. Sometimes we’re even just advocating to exist. Here are some tried and true tips for effective and efficient advocacy. (Americans for the Arts)
WORTH WATCHING
How One Teenager's Simple Idea Became a Successful Nonprofit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ic2r_uYTZ0&feature=youtu.be