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 California State PTA Online Newsletter                                 November 2010

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In This Issue
Monday Morning
Arts Education Chair
California State PTA Cultural Arts Grant
President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
KCAEEN and NSBA award

  Monday Morning

  

Inquire at your local city hall if there is display space for student artwork, photographs, or literature to be exhibited for a month or semester. When you exhibit the work, be sure to include a brief statement about your school's commitment to arts education and art experiences for all children.

 

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SMARTS is California State PTA's program to encourage arts education. Please spread the word about the benefits of arts education for all of California's K-12 students. 

New PTA position: Arts Education Chair

 

In our survey of local PTA leaders conducted last fall, 94 percent said they were interested or extremely interested in PTA continuing to advocate for a complete education that includes the arts - the second highest response behind adequate funding for schools. Given the importance of the arts, they deserve a designated champion in your PTA, someone who understands and will promote the academic, social and career benefits of the arts across the curriculum, and throughout the K-12 experience in our public schools. We are looking for Arts Education Chairs.

 

Approved by the State PTA Board of Managers at its October meeting, the new job description is posted on the SMARTS webpage and will also be included in the Job Descriptions section of the next Toolkit update, joining other vital committee chairmanships that are designed to serve PTA boards at every level. 

 

So, what kind of work is in store for your Arts Education Chair?  We suggest collaborating with your schools and communities to:

 

         Advocate for high-quality arts education for all California students.

         Seek opportunities to share best practices.

         Raise awareness about the relevance of the arts in increasing academic achievement and building a vibrant, productive society.

  

There are lots of suggestions within the job description to put these concepts into action. Please download it from the website and start talking about the possibilities with your PTA leaders and members.

 

If you have suggested activities or ideas for the work of an Arts Education Chair, please share them with us by

e-mailing [email protected]. And, better yet, share your passion for arts education by taking on this exciting role. We hope to meet you as an Arts Education Chair soon!

California State PTA Cultural Arts Grant  

Grants are available annually from the California State PTA for use by unit, council and district PTAs to develop and implement student-centered cultural arts programs and projects focused on arts education. This year's cultural arts grant application due date is the close of business on November 15. Download the grant application here. 

President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

 

In celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month, the White House held a live chat on October 19 with leaders from the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH). Participants in this first-of-its-kind live online chat included Chuck Close, PCAH member and visual artist; Margo Lion, PCAH co-chair; George Stevens, Jr., PCAH co-chair; and Damian Woetzel, PCAH member and ballet dancer.

 

If you missed it, this great discussion regarding the arts is still available for viewing in the White House live chat archives.

KCAEEN and NSBA award

 

Partnering with other national education organizations, the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network (KCAAEN) recognition programs encourage outstanding work that makes the arts an essential part of a student's education. Since 1998, the KCAAEN and the National School Boards Association (NSBA) have provided an annual award to school boards that have demonstrated support for - and commitment to - high-quality arts education in their school districts, communities, states or special jurisdictions. This national award recognizes boards whose districts have included all four major artistic disciplines - visual arts, music, theater and dance in their programs. The award competition program involves one school board per state that comprises the maximum national pool of nominees. Final selection is made by a national panel of arts educators and arts administrators including representatives of KCAAEN and NSBA. The national award is presented every year at the annual conference of the NSBA. The due date for submitting a nomination for the 2011 KCAAEN-NSBA award is December 1, 2010. For more information, click here

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