The AEI Note: Arts and Education News from EPLC

The AEI Note: August 27, 2012

Arts and Education News from The Education Policy and Leadership Center

AEI and EPLC News

Arts and Education Symposium Keynote Announced
We are pleased to announce that the Ayanna Hudson, new Director of Arts Education at the National Endowment for the Arts, will be the keynote speaker for this year's Arts and Education Symposium. The Symposium will be one of her first public speaking engagements in her new role and is not to be missed!

Sandra Ruppert, Director of the Arts Education Partnership, and good friend of the Arts and Education Initiative, will also be offering remarks to attendees of the Symposium.

The Second Annual Arts and Education Symposium will be held October 11, 2012 at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. That Thursday will be filled with compelling speakers and panel presentations, as well as unparalleled discussion and networking opportunities for both budding and senior professionals and advocates. Act 48 credit will be available to educators who attend thanks to support from the Capital Area Intermediate Unit.

This year's symposium is sponsored by:

Visit the Symposium's web page for more information and to register!

Pennsylvania Arts Education Network Updates

PA Arts Education Network Website
We are very excited to unveil the brand new Pennsylvania Arts Education Network website: www.ArtsEducationPA.org. This site will be an important resource for Network members and anyone seeking to support Arts Education in Pennsylvania.

Network Social Media Presence

If you haven't already, be sure you are following and sharing the Pennsylvania Arts Education Network's Facebook and Twitter pages. These tools will be used to update everyone about what is happening with the Network and its partners.

Inquiries about the PA Arts Education Network can be directed to Coordinator Erin Gough at gough@eplc.org.

Network to be Featured at AEP Fall National Forum
The Arts Education Partnership is holding their Fall National Forum, Arts Learning Without Borders, in Chattanooga, TN, on September 13-14. The Pennsylvania Arts Education Network will be hosting a Lunchtime Roundtable Discussion on Friday about the AEI report, Creating Pennsylvania's Future Through Arts and Education, and how individuals and organizations can promote public and policymaker support for arts education through the new statewide coalition. Register today for the forum to attend our presentation and others led by arts education leaders from across the nation.

Policy News

PAEP Receives Grant for 21st Century Learning

Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership was presented with a $451,100 grant by Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, Ron Tomalis, for work on their STEAM project. They are one of 61 recipients of the federal 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant which totals $19.78 million in funding. They are also the only arts focused program in Pennsylvania to have received one of these grants.

U.S. Dept of Ed Awards Grants to Arts Educators

The U.S. Department of Education awarded $1.2 million in grants to train arts educators serving in high-poverty schools. While none of the grants were awarded in Pennsylvania, we should all note U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's statement that "The study of the arts can both significantly boost student achievement and give students a reason to look forward to coming to school. All children should have arts-rich schools."

New Resources Available for Parents and Families
A new blog, email updates and other features are now available to parents who are interested in becoming more involved in their children's education thanks to a new U.S. Department of Education parent web page. The page will offer access to resources about special family involvement topics, such as special education, college, bullying, Promise Neighborhoods, and more.

Arts and Education News

Americans for the Arts Accepting Session Proposals

Apply now to host a session at the Americans for the Arts (AFTA) 2013 annual convention to be held June 14-17 in Pittsburgh. This is a special opportunity to present in front of the national arts community. Proposals can be submitted on the AFTA website and are due September 19, 2012.

Certified Arts Educators Supported by White Paper

State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) is pleased to share a paper outlining the roles and responsibilities certified arts educators, certified non-arts educators and providers of supplemental arts instruction play in providing a quality, sequential arts education for America's K-12 students. Several of the authors of this paper will be panelists at the the Arts and Education Symposium in Harrisburg on October 11. "Roles" has been endorsed by NAfME, the NAMM Foundation, and many others.

Join the Community of Learners for Arts Education

The Arts Education Collaborative in Western Pennsylvania is now accepting applications for cohort 2 of the Community of Learners for Arts Education, a professional development program for school and district administrators. The program, highly recommended by alumni, is accepting applications until September 14.

August is Connected Educator Month

The U.S. Department of Education declared August Connected Educator Month, and developed a month-long calendar of activities to help educators become more connected with students, parents, and each other. Several other organizations are involved as well, bringing new and innovative options to the table.

Pittsburgh Survey Reveals Support for Arts Education

An extensive survey of residents of Greater Pittsburgh was completed in 2011 and the report, The Pittsburgh Regional Quality of Life Survey, was released earlier this month. This report finds that over three-fourths of Allegheny County's residents attended at least one cultural event in the year prior to the survey (2010) and that a significant majority of residents reported that they think arts education is "very" (44%) or "extremely" (24%) important.

Erie Hosts a Celebration of the Arts in Pennsylvania

Earlier this summer, First Lady and Council on the Arts Chairwoman, Susan Corbett, announced the 2012 Governor's Awards honorees. The Governor's Awards ceremony is free to the public and will be presented on September 20 at the Warner Theater in Erie, followed by Art Aftermath, a ticketed, public reception sponsored by WE LOVE ERIE (ART), a week-long celebration of Arts in Pennsylvania.

PCA Exec Director Appointed to National PTA Board

Philip Horn, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, has been appointed to the National PTA board of directors by its national president. PTA board members serve in an unpaid, volunteer capacity for two-year terms. The national board works in cooperation with the national staff to promote long-term strategies and priorities that benefit children and families enrolled in public education.

NASA Holds Humans in Space Youth Art Competition

Encouraging youth to "Be Inspired, Creative and Heard," NASA is hosting their second annual Humans in Space Youth Art Competition. Students 10-18 years of age are invited to submit visual, literary, musical and video artwork expressing their vision of how humans will use science and technology in the future to explore space. Submissions are due October 21, 2012.

Arts in Education Week - September 9-15, 2012
In July 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution designating the second week of each September as "Arts in Education Week," to promote and showcase the immense role arts education has in producing engaged, successful, and college and career-ready students. The National Art Education Association, Americans for the Arts, The National Education Association and others provide resources and support to help highlight arts education that week (and throughout the year!).