[Members] Arts Education Newsletter February 2010

[Rick Dapprich]

Issue No. 8	A publication of the Michigan Youth Arts Leadership  
Roundtable	February 2010
In this issue
2010 Policy Agenda
Michigan Youth Arts reaches out to policymakers and communities to  
build support for arts education in Michigan.
ESEA Reauthorization
The new "No Child"

MCACA 2010 Grants
Applications are due February 24.

News and Opportunities
Federal Model Development Grants, VSA Institute, Claiming Creativity  
in Chicago, AEP ArtsEd Digest, Edutopia Article, Interlochen Adult  
Courses

Michigan Youth Arts reaches out to policymakers

Michigan Youth Arts has been working to inform educators,  
policymakers, government officials and grassroots organizations about  
the Michigan Arts Education 2010 Policy Agenda to advance arts  
education for all Michigan Students.

Executive Director, Kim Dabbs, presented the agenda, with Mike Latvis  
of ArtServe, during public comments to the State Board of Education.   
Kim, Mike and Drew Buchholz of Interlochen also presented to the  
membership of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Assocaition, the  
Michigan School Vocal Music Association, and the Michigan Art  
Education Association.  Meetings with legislators and education  
associations continue, as we build broad-based support for providing  
student access, institutional accountability, and professional  
development for educators in arts education in Michigan.

To learn more, find out how to advocate in your community, or invite  
us to present to your organization, contact Kim at director at michiganyoutharts.org 
.
Arts Stakeholders Present Testimony on ESEA Reauthorization

On January 20th, 2010, the U.S. Department of Education hosted a  
listening and learning session with arts education stakeholders in  
preparation for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary  
Education Act (ESEA), referred to previously as No Child Left Behind  
(NCLB). The meeting, hosted by Asst. Deputy Secretary of the Office of  
Innovation and Improvement James H. Shelton III and Carmel Martin,  
Assistant Secretary of the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy  
Development, asked invited participants to share their views and  
suggestions on "how ESEA can be improved to ensure a quality arts  
education for all children."

State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE),  
represented by Dale Schmid (NJ), attended the US Department of  
Education meeting on ESEA Reauthorization and Arts Education in  
Washington, DC.  Predicated on the input of its members, the SEADAE  
statement was presented verbally by Dale Schmid (NJ) and in hard copy  
to officials of the USDOE, including the Deputy Secretary of  
Education.  SEADAE members in attendance were: President Deb Hansen  
(DE), Dale Schmid (NJ), Jay Tucker (MD), and Scott Shuler (CT). Scott  
Shuler, President-Elect of MENC: The National Association for Music  
Education, also presented testimony as both a member of SEADAE and  
President-Elect of MENC.

The SEADAE testimony focused on:

1. The importance of federal legislation and, in particular, on the  
inclusion of the arts as core subject matter for all children, in  
leveraging parallel state policies and practices, and in promoting  
equity, excellence, and access to a balanced curriculum for every  
child.  Therefore, SEADAE strongly urged retaining the language in  
Title IX, Part A, Section 9101 - Definitions, which names the arts  
among the core disciplines required of all students.

2. Amending the language defining 'core academic subjects' to read:  
the visual and performing arts (including dance, music, theatre, and  
visual arts.)  SEADAE urged that all references to "Music and the  
Arts" should be struck in favor of this more definitive terminology.

3. Retention of existing language in Title V, Part A, Subpart 15,  
Section 5551. ASSISTANCE FOR ARTS EDUCATION as it currently exists,  
supporting systemic education reform by 1) strengthening arts  
education as an integral part of the school curriculum; 2) ensuring  
that all students meet challenging State academic content and  
achievement standards in the arts; and 3) supporting national efforts  
to enable all students to demonstrate competence in the arts.

4. In Section 6132 Purpose; SEADAE urged consideration of more  
inclusive language regarding the intent "to improve teacher quality  
and subject matter mastery in all content areas," modifying the  
existing language, which purports as its purpose "to improve teacher  
quality... with an emphasis on mathematics, reading, and science."   
SEADAE asked this, again, in the name of providing a fully balanced  
curriculum for the nation's children.

5. Title I, Part A, Subpart 1, Section 1111(b)(1)(C) Subjects  
currently stipulates State(s) shall have academic standards...in  
subjects determined by the State, but including at least mathematics,  
reading or language arts, and science.  While acknowledging the  
importance of foundational literacy in these areas, the unintended  
consequence of singling them out has been the narrowing of the  
curriculum.  SEADAE advised that language inclusive of all core  
academic subjects as defined in Title IX be used.

6. Finally, sections of legislation such as Title I Part A, Subpart 1,  
Section 1111(a) (3) ACADEMIC ASSESSMENTS - that place emphasis on  
testing of limited subjects for use as the primary means of  
determining yearly performance of the State and local educational  
agencies should be revised. Greater parity in measures used to  
determine Adequate Yearly Progress that span a balanced curriculum is  
in the best interest of students.  SEADAE highly recommended a fair  
and balanced system of assessment for learning that reaches across all  
domains.

Copies of the testimony presented by SEADAE, MENC, and relevant ESEA  
documents can be found at: www.seadae.org.

To stay in touch with the ESEA Reauthorization process, go to: http://www.ed.gov/blog/topic/esea-reauthorization/


Ana Luisa Cardona
Education Consultant
Arts Infused Education and Innovation
Michigan Department of Education
cardonaa at michigan.gov
The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Announces its Main  
Grant Program for FY 2010, the Program for Operational and Project  
Support

This new grant program will offer an opportunity for non-profit,  
schools and other tax-exempt organizations to apply for a competitive  
grant in either of the two identified categories - Operational Support  
or Project Support. Each category has specific eligibility  
requirements and review criteria. Guidelines for this program are  
available on our Grant Program and Online Forms Web pages and MCACA  
staff are available to assist you. The deadline for this program is  
February 24, 2010.

Also new this year, Michigan taxpayers can contribute to any of the  
funds on Form 4642, Voluntary Contributions Schedule. For the first  
time, this includes the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural  
Affairs. Called the Michigan Council for the Arts Fund, contributions  
are for grant programs that help keep our communities thriving with  
quality arts and culture.  Individuals may contribute $5 or more to  
the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs in support of local  
arts and cultural events.  These contributions are returned to local  
communities and nonprofit organizations in the form of grants.   
Programs and services funded by these monies include arts education  
and low-cost performances and exhibits.

Help to support grants coming directly to your community's arts and  
cultural organizations by contributing to the Michigan Council for  
Arts and Cultural Affairs through this tax check off opportunity. For  
more information go to the Department of Treasury's website and search  
for form 4642.
News and Opportunities

Model Development and Dissemination in Arts Eduction Grants
Statements of intent to apply are due February 15 for these federal  
grants targeted at model development for elementary and middle school  
programs.  Programs must strengthen arts and arts instruction in core  
elementary and middle school curricula; and improve students' academic  
performance, including their skills in creating, performing, and  
responding to the arts.  The government will offer an estimated 28  
awards of approximately $275,000 each.  Completed applications are due  
in March.

VSA arts Institute, February 25-27
The VSA arts Institute is a series of professional development  
workshops that focus on designing and delivering arts learning  
experiences that reach students with disabilities. Through discussion  
and hands-on arts activities, participants gain an understanding of  
the foundations of arts learning and inclusive education, and how to  
use inclusive practices in their work.  Learn more and register at  
vsami.org.

Claiming Creativity symposium in Chicago, April 21-24
The symposium Claiming Creativity will take place at Columbia College  
Chicago. The audience will be composed of practitioners and  
policymakers from all over the world. Claiming Creativity will offer  
presenters and other participants a practical forum for the  
investigation of long-standing and emerging issues in the arts and  
arts related fields. Through workshops, roundtable discussions and  
selected presentations from leading experts on creativity in the arts,  
commerce, science and industry, participants will share research,  
develop works in progress, and share their findings through a web  
forum and a symposium "journal," published through one of Columbia  
College Chicago's academic presses.  Visit Claiming Creativity for  
more information.

AEP's new ArtsEd Digest
The Arts Education Partnership has a new bi-weekly digest of news from  
across the country, the new face of their popular listserv.  Read the  
latest issue or subscribe here.

Edutopia's review of arts education initiatives
The article highlights some efforts to reincorporate arts into  
education, including Dallas' "unabashedly idealistic, yet meticulously  
researched, premise  - that students flourish when creativity drives  
learning."

Interlochen announces adult education courses
The College of Creative Arts has announced its summer adult courses,  
including professional development.  Learn more here.


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