Welcome to the EdTA Advocacy Update
April 18, 2017
The Advocacy Update is where you can find current national and state news concerning arts advocacy and arts education
EdTA NEWS
Annual Leadership Summit and EdTA National Arts Advocacy program: The Educational Theatre Association’s Annual Leadership Summit brings together the organization’s leaders—members of the Board of Directors, student leaders, key staff members, leadership mentors, chapter directors and chapter board members. Registration deadline June 15, 2017.
NATIONAL NEWS
The results from The Nation's Report Card (NAEP): 2016 Arts will be released: On Tuesday, April 25 at 10:30 a.m. ET, the National Assessment Governing Board and the National Center for Education Statistics will release results of The Nation's Report Card: 2016 Arts. (National Assessment Governing Board)
STATE NEWS
Got state theatre and other arts education news you want to share? Send it to May mhetzer@schooltheatre.org
California: Teachers brush up on new techniques to help improve a struggling school (SCPR.org)
Santa Fe High theatre teacher named to national advocacy group for the arts (Whittier Daily News)
Colorado: Arts education would be a baton that measures Colorado schools under Merrifield's bill (Colorado Springs Gazette)
Connecticut: UConn Puppetry Department Helps ESOL Students Enrich Language Skills (we-ha.com)
Delaware: Delaware Arts Alliance leads delegation for National Arts Advocacy Day (CapeGazette.com)
Florida: Melania Trump and China's first lady drop in on West Palm School (Sun Sentinel)
Illinois: Arts no longer an afterthought, thanks to Chance (The Columbia Chronicle)
Iowa: Input sought on fine arts standards (Iowa Department of Education)
Kentucky: Registration open for second annual Arts Education Summit (Kentucky Teacher)
Massachusetts: Massachusetts arts community decries Trump NEA, NEH cuts (Sentinel & Enterprise)
Missouri: Kelch: Continued Federal Funding of Arts Important (The Missourian)
Nevada: Fun art-based activities for Southern Nevada kids this summer (KTNV Las Vegas)
New York: Ring Elementary School Benefits From Kennedy Center Connection (Jamestown Post Journal)
The artistry of success (Times Union)
North Carolina: Arts in Wilmington Award nominations sought (StarNewsOnline.com)
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/328640-why-we-need-to-continue-funding-the-arts (The Hill (blog))
Pennsylvania: Outside entity helps schools without art programs (The Philadelphia Tribune)
Utah: SUU professor receives award for integrating arts into education (Deseret News)
Virginia: Staunton art community fears Trump will nix NEA (News Leader)
Washington: Budget cuts could have huge impact on arts in the Yakima Valley (Yakima Herald-Republic)
WORTH READING
Sculpting synapses: Fine arts have neuropsychological importance: “Fine arts have a lasting impact on emotional and social development. People who are learned in the arts tend to have better communication skills, especially in measures of cooperation and empathy. ” (Virginia Tech Collegiate Times)
New Website Lets You Fax Art to Congress to Save the NEA: Artifax allows constituents to fax a work of art to their elected officials, in protest of Trump’s proposal to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts. (Artsy)