Welcome to the EdTA Advocacy Update
January 29, 2016
The Advocacy Update is where you can find current national and state news concerning arts advocacy and arts education
EdTA NEWS
Thespian Alumni Newsletter launched: The new Thespian Alumni Newsletter and website supports the International Thespian Society’s more than 2 million alumni by celebrating their involvement as Thespian stakeholders and recognizing their contributions in the arts, education, and other professions.
NATIONAL NEWS
A state policy symposium on arts education: On March 5, in Washington, D.C., Americans for the Arts, the Kennedy Center and the Arts Education Partnership will co-host “States of Change: The Arts Leading the Way for Student Success,” a one-day symposium that will look at the intersection of arts education and education policy.
Theatre educator Tony Award: The Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University are accepting applications for the Excellence in Theatre Education Award given annually to an educator who has served as role model and teacher to future theatre professionals and life-long audience members.
STATE NEWS
Got state theatre and other arts education news you want to share? Send it to May mhetzer@schooltheatre.org
California: Legislator proposes new credentials for dance and theater teachers (89.3 KPCC)
Jason Mraz brings the arts and improvement to Burbank Elementary (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Colorado: Rejecting district plan, Denver school board keeps Noel Community Arts middle school open for now (Chalkbeat New York)
Florida: Orlando Mayor is Honored Nationally for Arts Leadership (Orlando Advocate)
Georgia: Georgia’s Fine Arts Specialist Optimistic about Arts Education (Atlanta’s NPR Station)
Illinois: Ingenuity's State of the Arts Report Shows Gains in Staffing, Class Time and Partnerships (PR Newswire)
Kentucky: We can’t afford to not fund the arts (Louisville Eccentric Observer)
Maine: Maine has an opportunity to pursue its own educational goals (Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel)
Minnesota: St. Paul’s Higher Ground Academy adds arts to STEM labs (TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press)
Missouri: STAGES St. Louis Receives Grant to support its Arts (Broadway World)
New Jersey: Billy Joel pledges $1M to save Long Island High School for the Arts (Newsday)
New York: View: Nice ring to 'Every Student Succeeds Act' (The Journal News)
North Carolina: Duke Students expand DKU’s arts community during Spring Break (Duke Chronicle)
Vermont: Arts bring life to schools (Rutland Herald)
WORTH READING
Learning Empathy through Dance Studies have shown the cognitive benefits students experience through being exposed to dance and other art forms, which is then linked to improved test scores and grade-point averages, especially for disadvantaged students. (The Atlantic)
Every Student Succeeds Act an Opportunity to Step up Together: The new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that replaced No Child Left Behind brings an opportunity for districts across the country to replicate the kind of whole-child, results-driven partnership approach that Oakland has already begin to implement. (Huffington Post)
WORTH WATCHING
Report finds improvements in Chicago Public School arts education (Fox 32 Chicago)