IEA Newsletter for Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Welcome to the Institute for Education and the Arts weekly newsletter for March 7, 2007. The newsletter is published each Wednesday morning and is archived here on the IEA blog.

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REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS

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MAKING A CASE FOR THE ARTS: HOW AND WHY THE ARTS ART CRITICAL TO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND BETTER SCHOOLS
Arts Education Partnership, 2006
”This brochure describes the benefits of arts education based on new research published by the Arts Education Partnership and can be used for many advocacy purposes.”
Learn more: http://www.aep-arts.org/publications/info.htm?publication_id=25

THE 2007 STATE NEW ECONOMY INDEX:
BENCHMARKING ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION IN THE STATES
Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, 2/27/07
“In a report sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, ITIF employs 26 indicators to assess the extent to which the 50 state economies are structured according to the tenets of the New Economy. The changing economic landscape requires state economies to be innovative, globally-linked, entrepreneurial and dynamic, with an educated workforce and all sectors embracing the use of information technology. The report, which updates and expands on the 2002 State New Economy Index, ranks the states accordingly. The five states ranking the highest in 2007 are, in order of rank, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, and California. With these measures as a frame of reference, the report then outlines the next generation of innovative state-level public policies needed to meet the challenges of the New Economy and boost incomes of all Americans.”
Read more: http://www.itif.org/index.php?id=30

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GRADES STATES ON EDUCATION
Jeff Archer, Education Week, 2/28/07
“With a new and highly critical report card offering a business perspective on the effectiveness of state education systems, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today weighed in with a prescription for more innovative, efficient, and better-performing schools. Titled ‘Leaders and Laggards,’ the chamber’s 84-page assessment gives letter grades to each state based on indicators related to student achievement, teacher quality, and school management. A “return on investment” grade rates states on student performance per dollars spent, controlled for poverty.”
Read the Education Week article (requires free subscription): http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/02/28/26chamber_web.h26.html
View the U.S. Chamber of Commerce report: http://www.uschamber.com/icw/reportcard/default

AN UNFINISHED CANVAS:
ARTS EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA: TAKING STOCK OF POLICIES AND PRACTICES
California Alliance for Arts Education, 3/1/07
“The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and SRI International have released An Unfinished Canvas, a benchmark study on the state of policies and practices in arts education in California schools. Based on a survey of 1,800 randomly selected elementary, middle and high schools, case studies of 31 schools and districts, and analysis of enrollment data from the state, the findings and subsequent recommendations will be a critical asset for local and state policymakers in determining next steps to reinvigorate arts education in California public schools. The report corroborates and amplifies the findings of the 2005 briefing paper published by the California Alliance for Arts Education, titled Quality, Equity and Access: The Status of Arts Education in California Public Schools and the Music for All Foundation’s report Sound of Silence. The report provides hard data on the inequities in quality and access that have been previously reported primarily as anecdotal evidence.”
Read the report: http://www.artsed411.org/involved/docs/AnUnfinishedCanvasSummaryReport.pdf

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MUSIC EDUCATION

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MUSIC EDUCATION LEADS TO AN INCREASE IN ONE’S IQ
Federation of Drums and Percussion, posted to Newswire, 2/7/07
”According to the study by E. Glenn Shallenberg at the University of Toronto, IQ test scores of 6-year-old children significantly improved after receiving drum lessons. Shallenberg recruited a group of 144 six (6) year olds and separated them into 4 groups: those receiving drum lessons, voice lessons, drama lessons and no lessons. Children receiving the drum lessons showed significant improvement in their IQ tests, gaining an average of 7 IQ points. Meanwhile, children receiving voice lessons increased 6 points, those receiving drama lessons increased 5 points and children receiving no lessons improved 4 points. In his article in Psychological Science, Shallenberg concluded that musical training, in particular, was responsible for the extra IQ points.”
Read more: http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/13547/

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VALUE OF THE ARTS

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IS ART MORE VALUABLE THAN MATH AND SCIENCE?
Kate Pielemeier, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; reprinted in Jackson Hole Star Tribune, 2/12/07
“Math and science are the big talking and testing points in education these days. But human resource experts believe that to truly succeed in the global economy, tomorrow's workers may benefit most from studying and participating in the arts. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, teamwork, creativity and innovation, professionalism and mathematics are key components of the arts -- and are considered vital to competing in the global marketplace. But nationally, only 20 percent of employers said their employees possess these competencies, according to a 2005 Society for Human Resource Management study, ‘The Future of the Labor Force.’"
Read more: http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2007/02/12/features/science/11c740169f70b44d8725727d000180f9.txt

NEW YORKER CARTOON ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE ARTS
How would prehistoric people articulate the benefits of the arts? Take a walk on the lighter side with this New Yorker cartoon.

View it: http://www.thenewyorkerstore.com/product_details.asp?mscssid=Q6LHECN230W38PU6MDGNA8HCFDKB291E&sitetype=1&did=4&sid=66471&whichpage=2&sortBy=popular&keyword=arts+education&section=cartoons

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CREATING PROFICIENCY

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VOICES IN URBAN EDUCATION (VUE)
Institute for School Reform at Brown University, Winter 2007
“This issue of Voices in Urban Education looks at what it would take – both from schools and from organizations outside of school – to bring all students to proficiency … Voices in Urban Education is published quarterly by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, as a "roundtable-in-print" to air diverse viewpoints and share new knowledge on vital issues in urban education.The articles can be accessed from the link below.”
Read more: http://www.annenberginstitute.org/VUE/index.html

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GRANTS, FUNDING, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

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THEATRE IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH ESSAY CONTEST
American Alliance for Theatre & Education (AATE)
AATE announces a K-12 essay contest in celebration of National Theatre in Our Schools Month. The theme of the contest will be ‘Why Theatre is Important in the Lives of Students.’ “A winning essay from each of three age group categories will be published in … one of AATE´s national journals, and the schools of the three winners will be honored with a free one-year membership to AATE. All entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2007.
Learn more: http://www.aate.com/tiosessaycontest.html

C-SPAN STUDENTCAM COMPETITION FOR GRADES 6 – 12
”C-SPAN StudentCam is an annual documentary competition that encourages students to think seriously about issues that affect our communities and our nation. C-SPAN StudentCam invites students to identify a current political topic of interest and produce a short (up to ten minute) video documentary which creatively explores an issue while integrating C-SPAN programming.” Awards range from $250 - $3000. Deadline: 3/30/07
Learn more: http://www.studentcam.org/

AMERICAN STARS OF TEACHING
U.S. Department of Education
“American Stars recognizes and honors superior teachers with a track record of improving student achievement, using innovative instructional strategies, and making a difference in the lives of their students. These teachers will be highlighted as representatives of the thousands of teachers who are making a difference in the classroom. The next group of American Stars of Teaching will be identified in each state and the District of Columbia and will represent all grade levels and disciplines. Officials from the U.S. Department of Education will again be visiting the classes of each American Star to congratulate them on their success. Nominations will be accepted through April 1, 2007.”
Learn more: http://www.t2tweb.us/AmStar/About.asp or http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2007/01/01092007a.html

2007 BUTLER-COOLEY EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARDS
Turnaround Management Association
“The Butler-Cooley Excellence in Teaching Awards Program … is funded by a five-year grant from the John Wm. Butler Foundation, Inc. The program is administered by the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), the only international non-profit association dedicated to corporate renewal and turnaround management. The program honors classroom teachers who have changed the outcome of students’ lives and the communities in which they live. Not less than three and not more than five teachers will be honored each year at the TMA Annual Convention.” Recipients are awarded $5000 and travel expenses to the TMA convention.”
Learn more: http://www.turnaround.org/cmaextras/ButlerCooleyEntryPackage2007.doc

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