Wednesday, September 23, 2009

DATA: Arts Education and Graduation Rates

At our district music educator inservice last month, a PowerPoint presentation was shared with us that validated what we, as Arts Educators, have known all along. A longitudinal study of high school students who took at least one year of Fine Arts credit were more likely to graduate with their cohort from high school. The more Arts credits taken, the higher the numbers across the board.

The data show that cumulative GPA's were higher, SAT Math and Verbal scores were higher and FCAT Reading, Writing and Math scores were higher for those students who were engaged in Arts Education all four years.

Please take a moment to look at the slide presentation below. My thanks to Mr. James Perry (Florida Music Educators Association) and Mrs. Paula Thornton (Instrumental Supervisor, Duval County Public Schools) for permission to use this PowerPoint presentation.



Let me leave you with one thought....it is up to us to do that which is right by our children.

Until next time...

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I love this piece! I do wonder if the kids are performing better because of the arts, or are the kids that perform better more inclined to appreciate the arts?

At any rate, can you give my baby voice lessons in case it is the former?

Peace,

T-Cubed