The arts make a difference in education: celebrate Arts in Education Week

Header image: Students working together on a class project at Royal Oaks School of the Arts in Kannapolis, N.C. Royal Oaks is part of the A+ Schools of North Carolina network. Photo by Tibor Nemeth.

We know that exposure to the arts positively impacts a child’s school experience, boosting retention, empathy, and overall satisfaction. Yet, convincing parents, administrators, and the public of the arts' importance to student performance can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. When it’s time to educate others about the value of the arts, here are five fast facts to share:

1. The arts enhance learning. According to Americans for the Arts, “Students in schools that offer arts-integrated learning are more likely to show better academic outcomes, transfer knowledge from arts to non-arts domains, and demonstrate greater motivation and engagement in learning.”
    
2. Students who take arts courses show up. EdVestors reports, “There are consistent positive effects on student attendance as a result of students taking arts courses. These effects are notably stronger for students who have a history of chronic absenteeism.”
    
3. The arts increase student and parent engagement. “When more students in a school are enrolled in arts courses, indicators of parent and student school engagement are higher,” as reported by EdVestors. “Students report positive impacts on Arts Enthusiasm, School Belonging, and Learning Engagement as they take more arts courses. As the number of students enrolled in arts courses increases, teachers are more likely to report that students put more effort into their work and parents are more active at the school.”
    
4. Arts education prepares students for future careers. The National Association of Colleges and Employers found that arts education builds such essential skills as creative problem-solving, written communication, and teamwork—traits employers actively seek.
    
5. The arts support academic achievement. According to Americans for the Arts, “Students who take arts classes score almost 100 points better on SATs than students who don’t.”
    

This Arts in Education Week, we celebrate the many ways in which the arts enrich our students’ lives and reaffirm our commitment to supporting the vital work of arts educators, teaching artists, and the A+ Schools of North Carolina network.