Art Education Advocacy in Massachusetts

In this new era, an education that focuses on the sciences, math, and the humanities is more important than ever, especially in a world where many disciplines are merging. 
In December 2015, Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Under ESSA, instruction in the arts is now included in the definition of a “well-rounded education”. An arts infused education should be commonplace- it has been proven over and over that arts education fosters critical thinking, cognitive flexibility, innovation, and creativity—frequent descriptors of what is needed to succeed in our fast-changing global economy. Citing a large body of research, the 2011 Reinvesting in Arts Education report of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities (PCAH) noted that engagement in the arts through education fosters better habits of mind that are not only reflected in better standardized test scores but also success later on in life. 
A well-rounded education should not be a luxury- it should be a necessity, something that is ubiquitous in every education system. Massachusetts should immediately put participation in arts education in its new accountability plan. This will ensure that every student in Massachusetts has access to and participates in arts education. Massachusetts should also encourage districts to use arts education to meet the goals of Title I funding to provide increased educational opportunities to disadvantaged students through arts programs. Title II funds should be used to support the professional development for arts educators. Massachusetts can tap into a $20 million grant program to integrate arts education into the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curriculum.
So please put arts education access and participation into the new state accountability plan. Not only will this help students improve in all facets of their lives, but also give them new opportunities to explore and succeed. This one small step will go a long way in not just improving our MA education system, but also the lives of countless students.