SMARTS: BRING BACK THE ARTS

CALIFORNIA STATE PTA ONLINE NEWSLETTER

November 2003

The California State PTA wants to create advocates for quality arts education at every school in California!

In this issue:

• November is National American Indian Heritage Month
• How the Arts Can Enhance After-School Programs
• Young Children and the Arts: Making Creative Connections
• Gaining the Arts Advantage: Lessons From School Districts That Value Arts Education
• The Emerging Young Artist Awards (EYAA)
• All About Artists: Biographies, Galleries and much more
• Art Lessons Online
• Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning
• Legislative Update: PTA Arts Bill Signed into Law

November is National American Indian Heritage Month

Visit the ArtsEdge Web site for lesson plans. (The Kennedy Center)
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/teaching_materials/curricula/featured/2003_11.html

How the Arts Can Enhance After-School Programs

Find out how communities across the country are creating exemplary programs.
(U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts)
http://www.arts.gov/pub/ArtsAfterSchool/artsedpub.html

Young Children and the Arts: Making Creative Connections:

How to develop and implement arts-based early childhood programs. (Arts Education Partnership)
http://www.aep-arts.org/YoungChildren.html

Gaining the Arts Advantage: Lessons From School Districts That Value Arts Education:

Learn how school districts create successful arts education programs. (Arts Education Partnership)
http://www.aep-arts.org/Gaining.html

The Emerging Young Artist Awards (EYAA)

Download an application.
The EYAA provides up to $5,000 per year for four years ($20,000) to talented young artists while enrolled in a college/university degree program or professional training program in their artistic discipline.

All About Artists: Biographies, Galleries and much more

Find artwork by famous artists from around the world.
http://www.allaboutartists.com/index.html

Art Lessons Online

Click on to art projects for teachers, parents, and children.
http://www.talentteacher.com/

Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning

Read critical research on the arts and learning
http://www.aep-arts.org/Champions.html

Legislative Update: PTA Arts Bill Signed into Law

Working with the California Alliance for Arts Education, PTA was successful in moving several important arts bills through the Legislature. Bills signed by the Governor include:

SB469 (Scott) (PTA SPONSORED BILL)
Authorizes a school district to use its instructional materials funds to purchase adopted instructional materials for the visual and performing arts, foreign language, health, or any other curricular area if it certifies that it has provided each pupil with a standards-aligned textbook or basic instructional materials in reading/language arts, mathematics, history/social science, and science.

AB1512 (Cohn) Establishes the CDE Arts Work Grant Program into statute.

SB611 (Ducheny) Makes clear the intent of the Legislature to support all Subject Matter Projects, including the arts, health, and foreign language.

SCR 5 (Scott) An important legislative resolution acknowledging and supporting standards-based instruction in the visual and performing arts in all California public schools, pre-kindergarten through grade 12 inclusive.

HR 9 (Firebaugh) Declared March 2003 Arts Education Month and encouraged all educational communities to celebrate the arts with meaningful pupil activities and programs.

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SMARTS Newsletters

Interactive Web Sites

• Drama and Dance
• Music
• Visual Arts

Resources Online

• Advocacy
• Community
• Teachers
• Parents
• The State of the Arts in California Public Schools
• Grants and Funding
• Arts and Education Research
• Museums Online

PTA Reflections Program

California State PTA Mural

Picture Gallery

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