Read all the research, news, and policy in our arts education RECAP for May 2024.
Research
How music education sharpens the brain, tunes us up for life, “Music education provides physical and auditory experiences that work like bridges for brain structures. As the brain processes musical sounds and body movements, neural pathways across different regions of the brain grow and strengthen.” EdSource
Why is media arts so vital for students today? “Media arts reflects our current digital society, and prepares students with the multiliteracies necessary to function and succeed in this rapidly changing world.” EdSource
Equity
California Reverses 58% Budget Cuts to Arts: Advocacy Efforts Yield Significant Wins for IE Arts Sector, “The collective efforts of the arts community have made a substantial impact, demonstrating the power of advocacy and the importance of the arts in California. As the state moves forward, continued support and engagement will be critical in ensuring the vitality and growth of the arts sector. ‘IE Community News
Calls-to-Action
As we expand universal preschool access, let’s ensure teachers mirror their students’ ethnicity, “Training and hiring teachers and staff who represent the racial and cultural communities they serve is beneficial because they connect better with the students through incorporating culturally relevant pedagogy, which is generally not offered in typical school curriculum.” EdSource
Advocacy
English learners, too, would benefit from fixing how we teach reading in California; this bill is a good start, “It is difficult to pack all this into a piece of legislation clearly and precisely. But try we must if we’re serious about improving reading achievement rather than winning the latest reading wars skirmish.” EdSource
Policy
California spent nearly $1 billion to boost arts education. Are schools misspending it? “But the key is creating an arts program that’s part of a broader plan, aligns with the state standards, offers plenty of options and reflects a range of cultures, said Sarah Brothers, the council’s education director.” CalMatters
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