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 The AEI Note: May 28, 2013

Arts and Education News from the Education Policy and Leadership Center  

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In This Issue
Call for Student Artwork
Governor's School Alumni Network
Apply Now for Ed Fellowship Program
State Budget Update
Changes in the Department of Education
Common Core Standards Rollout Delayed
Americans for the Arts Convention
Createquity Office Hours in Pittsburgh
Teaching the Arts to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Governor's Awards for the Arts Nominations
Summer Institutes for Art Educators
Humanities Council Launches SpeakEasy
Register for AATE Conference
Call for Papers
PA Arts & Culture Legislative Visit Day
Philly Arts Ed Supporters Protest Proposed Cuts
AEP Releases New Research Bulletin
Music Teachers in Award Quarterfinals
NEA Announces Second Round Grants
Philadelphia Wins ArtPlace Grants
CultureBlocks Launched
Be Included in Next Month's Note!

 

Do you have something to contribute to next month's Note? 

 

Email AEI Manager Erin Gough at gough@eplc.org to be included!

SAVE THE DATE!
 
 
The 3rd Annual Arts and Education Symposium will be held in at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg on Wednesday, October 30! 

Can't wait to see you there!
Share the Network's Policy Agenda with your State and Local Leaders!
   
Read and share the Policy Agenda, here, and remember that your voice as a constituent is valued!
PA Arts Ed Network Logo White Background
citizens
PCA
PHMC
 
U.S. House of Representatives 
 
  
Pennsylvania Arts Education
Network Updates
  
Call for Student Artwork for October's Symposium
 
Looking ahead to EPLC's October 30 Arts and Education Symposium, EPLC is inviting all of Pennsylvania's student artists (K-12) to submit artworks that may be featured on event marketing and printed materials.
  

One winning artwork will be selected for the cover of the Symposium's program. Additional pieces may be chosen for the Symposium online and printed marketing materials, as well as the program interior.

The artist of the winning artwork will be invited to the Symposium for an awards presentation and will be presented with a matted copy of their selected artwork.

 

Only digital files will be accepted. Please submit high-resolution images to Erin Gough at gough@eplc.org. (Images must be at least 120 pixels per inch (high resolution) but smaller than 10 MB).

 

Applications are due by June 30, 2013.  Fill out the submission form, here

Governor's School Alumni Network Development

The Pennsylvania Arts Education Network continues to search for Alumni of the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts (PGSA). 

 

If you, or someone you know, taught at or attended the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts, please complete this form and share with others.  We have been contacted by over 600 alumni already, and appreciate all of the help from former students and faculty in spreading this message.    

 

 
AEI and EPLC News
 
Apply for the PA Education Policy Fellowship Program 
Applications are available now for the 2013-2014 Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP)The Education Policy Fellowship Program is sponsored in Pennsylvania by The Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC).  

 

With more than 350 graduates in its first fourteen years, this Program is a premier professional development opportunity for educators, state and local policymakers, advocates, and community leaders.

 

Past participants include state policymakers, district superintendents and principals, school business officers, school board members, education deans/chairs, statewide association leaders, parent leaders, education advocates, and other education and community leaders.  Fellows are typically sponsored by their employer or another organization.

 

We need one or more arts educators and arts advocates to be a part of the 2013-2014 cohort!

 

The Fellowship Program begins with a two-day retreat on September 12-13, 2013 and continues to graduation in June 2014.

 

Applications are being accepted now.  

 

If you would like to discuss any aspect of the Fellowship Program and its requirements, please contact Mattie Robinson at 717-260-9900 or robinson@eplc.org, or Ron Cowell at 412-298-4796 or cowell@eplc.org.

 
Policy News
 
State Budget Update  
House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Adolph (R-165) and the House majority will introduce a 2013-2014 state budget bill this week.  The bill will be scheduled for action in the House Appropriations Committee June 3, and be open for debate on the House floor beginning June 10.

The General Assembly and Governor must approve a budget by June 30.  Chairman Adolph's budget timetable would leave only a couple of weeks for the Senate to debate, amend, and approve a budget that the House and the Governor will need to likewise approve before the new fiscal year begins on July 1.
Leadership Changes in the Department of Education 
Starting Monday, June 3, the Pennsylvania Department of Education will have a new leader.
  
On May 15, the Corbett Administration announced that Secretary of Education, Ron Tomalis, would resign and be replaced by current Cumberland Valley School District Superintendent, Dr. William Harner.  Tomalis will become special adviser to the governor on higher education where he will oversee, implement, and review the recommendations made by the Governor's Postsecondary Advisory Commission.
  
Dr. William Harner will begin on June 3 as Acting Secretary until his nomination is confirmed by the Senate.  Harner has served in a variety of education roles following a 20-year military career, including middle school principal, school superintendent in South Carolina, and deputy chief executive officer in the School District of Philadelphia.
  
Read more about the changes and the incoming Secretary of Education, here.
Common Core Standards Rollout Delayed  

Less than two months from the date when Pennsylvania school districts were expected to begin implementing the controversial Pennsylvania Common Core Standards, Governor Corbett has ordered a delay.

 

Department of Education spokesman, Tim Eller, said the Governor made the decision to push off the implementation date beyond July 1 after consulting with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who disagree with the standards for an array of different reasons.

 

In the middle of May, it became clear in House and Senate education committees' meetings that not all lawmakers are on board with the move to these grade-level learning expectations that would have brought Pennsylvania public school instruction more in unison with the standards that 44 other states and the District of Columbia are in the process of implementing.  Read more about the delay, here.

 

However, officials expect the Pennsylvania Common Core standards to be in effect for next school year and recommend that school officials should continue to prepare for them.  To read more about what the Common Core Standards mean for the arts, read the Arts Education Collaborative's policy briefing on the Arts and the Common Core, here.

 
Opportunities for
Arts Education Professionals
 
Americans for the Arts Convention in Pittsburgh!
Afta Convention 
Join more than 1,000 arts and community leaders at the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention in Pittsburgh from June 14-16 as leaders in the field share innovative ways leaders are using the arts to build communities.
  
Arts Education Professionals have 8 arts education specific sessions to look forward to (titles as listed, click on the links for details):
Createquity Office Hours in Pittsburgh 
In honor of the Americans for the Arts Convention, arts and creative society blog, Createquity, is having a special Createquity Office Hours event in Pittsburgh on Thursday, June 13 from 9-11 p.m., the night before convention begins.  Author Ian David Moss will be joined by past Createquity Writing Fellows, Talia Gibas and Katherine Gressel.  Come with questions, ideas, requests for career advice, whatever - it's a great way for arts leaders to get to know each other better and share today's big ideas!
  
Createquity Office Hours: Pittsburgh
Thursday, June 13
9-11pm
971 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA
RSVP here by June 9 (required)
Teaching the Arts to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders 
 VSA Pennsylvania has been awarded a contract for $50,000 from the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to partner with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) and its thirteen Arts in Education (AIE) partners across the State to provide sixteen professional development workshops.  The workshops will focus on including students on the autism spectrum in arts classrooms, workshops and residencies.  Learn more here.  Click here for workshop dates and locations.
  
Governor's Awards for the Arts Nominations Open 
The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts is asking for nominations for the 2013 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Governor's Awards for the Arts.  The four award categories recognize individuals and organizations for artistic excellence and outstanding contributions to the Commonwealth through programs, support, innovation, leadership and service.  The awards will be presented in a public state ceremony to be held in September (date and location tba).  Deadline for nominations is June 5.  To read more or to submit a nomination, please click here.
Summer Institutes for Art Educators at Kutztown 
Kutztown University's Summer Institutes for Art Educators are held in the summer months that correspond to Public School summer vacation schedules. The Institutes provide intensive one to two week instruction in art education and its related fields of study. Art Education and Visual Studies classes meet for one week, all studio courses run for two weeks. The Institutes connect students with community resources and visiting artist/ scholars. The Institutes are designed to provide in-depth experiences that are unavailable through regular coursework.  Act 48 credit is available.
Humanities Council Announces Launch of SpeakEasy 
Registration Now Open for 2013 AATE Conference
The American Alliance for Theatre Education's (AATE) 2013 national conference: ACT NOW! Empowerment Through Artistry and Advocacy, will take place in Washington, DC from July 24-28, 2013. Early registration is available through May 31.  The conference will feature networking opportunities, sessions, and keynote speakers, and kicks off on July 24 with an opening night celebration highlighting advocacy for and through the arts.  The event will feature an exciting student performance and an interactive panel discussion exploring how arts educators can advocate at the federal, state, city, and local level for their classrooms and communities.  Visit the conference website for complete program details and registration information. 
Call for Papers: Technology, Policy, & Arts Education
 
Arts and Education News
 
PA Arts & Culture Legislative Visit Day - May 7 
On May 7, Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania held an Arts & Culture Legislative Visit Day.  Arts supporters from across the state gathered in Harrisburg and visited legislators to deliver a message about state support of arts & culture.  They shared Citizens for the Arts policy agenda for FY 13-14 which included the Pennsylvania Arts Education Network's policy asks.  Legislators who are not members of the Legislative Arts & Culture Caucus were asked to join.  It is important that you also share these asks with your own legislators as they heavily weigh the priorities of their own constituents.
Philly Arts Ed Supporters Protest Proposed Cuts 

Last month, the Philadelphia School Superintendent introduced a budget that would cut music and art programs in the city's public schools. Public Citizens for Children and Youth, the Nebinger Home and School Association, and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance organized a rally last Thursday, presenting City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown and Councilwoman Maria D. Quiñones-Sánchez with "Arts Education Superhero" capes to honor them for supporting the effort.  On May 17, 300 high school students in Philadelphia walked out of class and marched on city buildings in response to the proposed cuts. Read more, here.

  
AEP Releases New Research Bulletin 

The Arts Education Partnership's (AEP's) latest research bulletin, Preparing Students for the Next America: The Benefits of an Arts Education, offers a snapshot of how the arts support achievement in school, bolster skills demanded of a 21st century workforce, and enrich the lives of young people and communities.  It draws on the research in AEP's ArtsEdSearch.org, the nation's first clearinghouse of research on the impact of arts education on students and their school communities.

Order hard copies online or download the PDF for free!  Tweet about it using #ArtsFosterSuccess.

PA Music Teachers in GRAMMY Award Quarterfinals

On May 23, the GRAMMY Foundation announced a list of 217 music teachers from 195 cities in 45 states who have been honored as quarterfinalists for the Music Educator Award presented by The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation.  In total, more than 30,000 initial nominations were submitted from all 50 states.  To read more about the award, please read on, here.

 

 

Congratulations to the following Pennsylvania music educators who have made it to this round!

 

Adam BrennanMansfield UniversityMansfield
Dan BrennerSpring Grove Area HSSpring Grove
Amy DarbyPhoenixville Area MSPhoenixville
Neil DelsonCentral Bucks HS WestDoylestown
Julia FedericoGrover Washington, Jr. MSPhiladelphia
Todd GoodmanLincoln Park Performing Arts
Charter School
Midland
Michael HoodWissahickon High SchoolAmbler
Greg HutchinsonLower Dauphin MSHummelstown
Thomas NagyCambria Elementary SchoolEbensburg
Peter NeuPennbrook MSNorth Wales
Debra ReillyOrefield MS & Springhouse MSAllentown
Kevin RushBrockway HSBrockway
Timothy SternerJ. P. McCaskey HSLancaster
Erin StroupLower Moreland Twp. HSHuntingdon Valley
Robert TraughNorwin HSNorth Huntingdon
Kelly WinovichNorthgate Middle/Sr HSPittsburgh

 

NEA Announces Second Round FY13 Art Works Grants 

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa announced that the NEA plans to award $26.3 million in grants to nonprofit national, regional, state, and local organizations nationwide.  These grants support exemplary projects in 13 artistic disciplines and fields including: arts education, dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literature, and visual arts.

Art Works grants support:

  • the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence;
  • public engagement with diverse and excellent art;
  • lifelong learning in the arts; and
  • enhancement of the livability of communities through the arts.

Thirty Pennsylvania organizations received grants for a total dollar amount of $975,000.  For a full list of recipients, visit here.

Philadelphia Wins $1.2 Million in ArtPlace Grants

On May 20, Philadelphia Mayor Nutter announced that the city won $1.2 million in grants from ArtPlace America for four projects that will enhance public spaces in University City, Frankford, and on the Delaware River waterfront.  ArtPlace America gave a total of $42.1 million in grants to 54 organizations around the country.  To read more, click here.

CultureBlocks Officially Launched

In late April, CultureBlocks, a free mapping tool that supports people and organizations making decisions about place-making, the arts, and creativity in Philadelphia, was launched.

 

CultureBlocks is a public-private partnership between the City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy; the City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce; The Reinvestment Fund's (TRF) Policy Map; and the Social Impact of the Arts Project (SAIP) at the University of Pennsylvania.  It is supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and ArtPlace.

 

The CultureBlocks web-tool is a part of a larger research initiative to understand the impact of the arts on neighborhoods and drive future investment in the arts.  As part of the project, TRF will prepare a white paper of findings from CultureBlocks data that will inform an arts and culture investment strategy for the City.  Additionally, SIAP and TRF will construct a Philadelphia livability index that will link information on neighborhood cultural assets with other relevant indices related to social well-being. 

 

Read more, here.