In spring 2004, the National School Boards Association and
Americans for the Arts convened to discuss opportunities for
collaboration in a nationwide campaign to increase the presence
and quality of arts education in American public schools. The
arts serve as a critical component to a complete education and
are proven to increase student academic achievement. Young
people who consistently participate in comprehensive,
sequential, and rigorous arts programs are: - 4 times more
likely to be recognized for academic achievement - 3 times more
likely to be elected to class office within their schools - 4
times more likely to participate in a math and science fair - 3
times more likely to win an award for school attendance - 4
times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem*
For many of America's youth, public schools serve as the major
provider of formalized arts instruction. Therefore, it is
critical that the arts maintain their status as a core academic
subject within a school district's education