Arts Adoption Tips

Tip #1: Understand the facts.

Be familiar with the benefits of arts learning, including how it improves student engagement, academic performance, social development, and college and career readiness.

College Readiness and Lifelong Learning - Arts education develops critical thinking skills, which are key to college readiness, lifelong learning, and workforce development.

Photo courtesy of Telfair Museums / Data source: Arts Education Partnership

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #2: Know your local schools.

Find out what arts courses and resources are offered, then ask questions: Are there arts teachers in all disciplines on staff? How much arts instruction do students receive? Are the appropriate facilities and equipment available?

Academic Achievement - Students who study the arts are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement.

Photo courtesy of Telfair Museums / Data source: National Governor’s Association

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #3: Connect with others.

There’s strength in numbers. Engage with your friends and family, parents, local business leaders, and community members to discuss and share your support for arts education.

Transferable Skills - Students who take arts classes are more likely to develop transferable skills desired by employers such as communication, collaboration, and problem solving.

Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association / Data source: The Art of Science Learning

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #4: Get involved.

It can be as easy as writing a letter. Advocate for funding and policies that support arts learning in your school.

Literacy - Arts education helps students become better readers and writers.

Photo courtesy of Springer Opera House / Data source: Arts Education Partnership

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #5: Partner up.

Talk to local arts and cultural organizations to explore collaborations with the school through afterschool programs, artist residencies, field trip opportunities, and community-based partnerships.

High School Graduation Rates - Students who participate in the arts are 18% more likely to graduate from high school.

Photo courtesy of Savannah Music Festival / Data source: National Endowment for the Arts

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #6: Stay informed.

Attend PTA meetings, school board meetings, and community forums. Contribute to the dialogue surrounding the significance of arts learning.

Academic and Social Outcomes - The arts are linked to academic and social outcomes such as reading readiness, mathematics proficiency, conflict resolution skills, and nonverbal reasoning.

Photo courtesy of Moving in the Spirit / Data source: National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #7: Focus on resources.

Help ensure that local schools have adequate facilities, supplies, and equipment to make the arts available to students. Work with local partners such as the PTA or Communities in Schools to provide resources to supplement arts supplies provided by the school.

GPA - Students with arts-rich experiences have higher overall GPAs than students who lack arts experiences.

Photo courtesy of Center for Puppetry Arts / Data source: National Endowment for the Arts

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #8: Take a different approach.

Bring the arts into daily classroom instruction through arts integration and encourage teachers in other subject areas to use arts-based strategies to teach state-adopted standards.

Student Discipline and Behavior - When schools integrate the arts across the curriculum, disciplinary referrals decrease.

Photo courtesy of Moving in the Spirit / Data source: Arts Education Partnership

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #9: Support teachers and staff.

Advocate for arts classes in every public school to be taught by certified arts specialists and for opportunities to be made available to teachers for participation in arts learning-specific professional development programs and conferences.

Teacher Effectiveness and Retention - Arts integration contributes to increased teacher effectiveness and teacher satisfaction, lowering teacher turnover rates.

Photo courtesy of Savannah Music Festival / Data source: Arts Education Partnership

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #10: Encourage student engagement.

Inspire students to take courses in the arts by giving them the aspiration to think about the arts as part of their education and job preparation.

Workforce Preparedness - Developing arts and design skills provides dual benefits to students – opening up careers in the creative industries and enhancing workforce preparedness.

Photo by Telfair Museums / Data source: National Governor’s Association

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #11: Make the time.

Encourage administrators to examine the school schedule and consider adjustments to allow for arts learning opportunities during and after school and for collaborative planning time for teachers to support arts integration across the curriculum.

$Math Skills - Students who study the arts outperform their non-arts peers on mathematics assessments – including computation skills, estimation skills, and fractions.$

Photo courtesy of Savannah Music Festival / Data source: Arts Education Partnership

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #12: Add art to the equation.

Implement the STEAM model by seeking opportunities to integrate the arts with science, technology, engineering and math.

Test Scores - Students with high levels of arts engagement have higher test scores in science and writing.

Photo courtesy of Thomasville Center for the Arts / Data source: National Endowment for the Arts

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #13: Learn from others.

Encourage collaboration across schools to share best practices for arts learning, including among district fine arts coordinators throughout the state.

Social Skills - Arts activities promote growth in student social skills, including self-confidence, conflict resolution, collaboration, and empathy.

Photo courtesy of Moving in the Spirit / Data source: National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #14: Partner with the media.

Write a letter to the editor or place op-eds, ask your local TV and radio stations to produce stories on arts education, or arrange to appear on a local TV or radio talk show to discuss public support for arts learning opportunities.

Creativity - Arts education develops creativity, which 72% of business leaders say is the number one skill they look for when hiring.

Photo courtesy of Center for Puppetry Arts / Data source: The Conference Board with Americans for the Arts

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #15: Build long-term relationships.

Look for opportunities to develop ongoing, meaningful relationships with local decision-makers. Invite them to student arts events, too!

SAT Scores - Students involved in the arts average almost 100 points better on the SATs than their peers.

Photo by Thomasville Center for the Arts / Data source: The College Board and Americans for the Arts (2)

 Swipe right to view more tips

Tip #16: Don't give up.

All students deserve the academic, college, career, and lifelong benefits of an education that includes the arts. Remember that change takes time and your voice matters. Use it!

College Graduation Rates - Students who study the arts are… 3 times more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Photo courtesy of Telfair Museums / Data source: National Endowment for the Arts

 Swipe right to view more tips

Previous tip

Next tip