There is no question that education in America has turned into a national debate. The White House, Congress, state legislatures, and administrators are urging reform and improvements. The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH), in coordination with the U.S. Department of Education and the White House Domestic Policy Council, has created the Turnaround Arts Initiative to help improve some of the lowest performing elementary and middle schools in the country.
t all began as a campaign promise. When Barack Obama was running for I president, one of his campaign platforms was a “champion for arts and culture.” He specifically pledged several items in support of arts education, including the CREATING SUCCESS IN SCHOOLS promise to “use the bully pulpit to promote the importance of arts and arts education in America.” He also pledged to “engage the foundation and corporate community to increase support for public/private partnerships” that support arts education. TURNAROUND ARTS
4 | ARTS LINK | FALL/WINTER 2013 The arts can be an innovative n method for boosting student engagement and increasing academic achievement in low- performing schools. All photos throughout this article are courtesy of Turnaround Arts.
CREATING SUCCESS IN SCHOOLS TURNAROUND ARTS By Kristen Engebretsen, Americans for the Arts TURNAROUND ARTS
QUICK LOOK Reinvesting in Arts Education
4 “The president and I want to ensure that all children have access to great works of art at museums. We want them to have access to great poets and musicians in theaters around the country, to arts education in their schools and community workshops.” — First Lady and Honorary Chair of PCAH Michelle Obama
Read the report: http://bit.ly/ReinvestingInArtsEd.
One way that President Obama has been our nation’s schools. The report synthe- able to keep these campaign promises sized this information and described is through the important work of the how our schools can utilize the arts as a President’s Committee on the Arts and tool to 1) close the achievement gap, 2) the Humanities (PCAH). Created under lower the dropout rate, and 3) prepare President Reagan in 1982, the Commit- our students for jobs in the 21st century tee works with federal agencies and the workforce. The report offers case studies, private sector to initiate and support key an appendix of model programs, and a programs in the arts and the humani- set of recommendations for federal, state, ties, usually through research and policy and local policymakers and stakeholders. analysis. Central to the PCAH mission is The report offers five recommen- using the power of the arts and humani- dations to increase and improve arts ties to contribute to the vibrancy of our education in America: society, the education of our children, 1. Build collaborations among the creativity of our citizens, and the different approaches. strength of our democracy. First Lady 2. Develop the field of arts integration. Michelle Obama is the Honorary Chair of 3. Expand in-school opportunities for PCAH, and members of the Committee teaching artists. include public figures, celebrated artists, 4. Utilize federal and state policies and presidentially appointed individuals. to reinforce the place of arts in In 2011, the Committee released K–12 education. a landmark report called Reinvesting in 5. Widen the focus of evidence Arts Education: Winning America’s Future gathering about arts education. Through Creative Schools. The report sum- These recommendations lay the marized more than a decade of research foundation for PCAH’s work and mission showing the benefits of arts education in both immediately and in the future.
6 | ARTS LINK | FALL/WINTER 2013 The Source for Arts Professionals In the Know TURNAROUND ARTS: THE PROGRAM In 2012, PCAH launched a new initiative to test the hypothesis that high-quality and integrated arts education can be an effective tool to strengthen school reform efforts. The new initiative, Turnaround Arts (which implements several of the recommendations from Reinvesting in Arts Education), focuses QUICK LOOK on using the arts to help boost academic achievement and increase student motivation in schools facing some of Turnaround the toughest educational challenges Arts Schools in the country. 4 Turnaround Arts was also designed As part of the program, PCAH Artist members have each “adopted” at least one to be an innovative example of public/ of the Turnaround Arts schools. Turnaround private partnership. Federal partners Artist involvement with schools takes include the White House Domestic many forms, including participating in performances, master classes, and Policy Council, the U.S. Department of community events at the school.
Education, and the National Endowment n Chuck Close for the Arts, which contributes both Roosevelt School funding and expertise. Private partners Bridgeport, CT include the Ford Foundation, the Herb n Yo-Yo Ma Orchard Gardens K–8 Pilot School Alpert Foundation, Crayola, the NAMM Boston, MA Foundation, the Aspen Institute, and n Sarah Jessica Parker Booz Allen Hamilton. Americans for the Martin Luther King Jr. School Arts was added as a coordinating partner Portland, OR in June 2013. n Kerry Washington Turnaround Arts works exclusively Savoy Elementary School Washington, DC in “turnaround schools”—schools that n Forest Whitaker perform in the lowest 5 percent on their Findley Elementary School state test scores and are receiving School Des Moines, IA
Improvement Grants (SIG) through n Damian Woetzel the U.S. Department of Education. SIG Lame Deer Jr. High School Lame Deer, MT & grants are awarded to help persistently Orchard Gardens K–8 low-performing schools that agree to Pilot School, Boston, MA
implement a series of significant and n Alfre Woodard structural interventions. Renew Cultural Arts Academy, New Orleans, LA & After an application process, open Noel Community Arts School to any SIG grantees, and a nomina- Denver, CO tion process from state and municipal authorities, PCAH members conducted
www.AmericansForTheArts.org FALL/WINTER 2013 | ARTS LINK | 7 When you walk into a Turnaround Arts school, it just feels different. There’s a lot of joy in the hallways; people are engaged; family members and community members are coming into “the school for performances. —Kathy Fletcher,” Turnaround Arts Program Director
Students at Roosevelt n School enjoyed a presentation of The Wiz, a musical adaptation of the beloved The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Turnaround Artist and n mentor Sarah Jessica Parker greets students at her “adopted” school—Martin Luther King Jr. School in Portland, OR.
site visits to each of the final schools. Each school receives a minimum of Criteria for selection included demon- the following services: strated need and opportunity for arts n A summer institute for school leader- education impact, strong school leader- ship with nationally recognized arts ship with district support, and evidence education providers; of a commitment to arts education as a n In-school professional development pillar of the school’s turnaround strat- during the school year; egy. As part of that commitment, all n Partnerships with community arts schools were required to have at least education and cultural organizations; one full-time arts specialist on staff. The n PCAH Turnaround Artists working in eight schools selected represent demo- each of the schools; graphic diversity of environment (urban, n Additional arts supplies and rural, suburban), grade levels (elemen- musical instruments; tary and middle schools), geographic n A public arts event in the school with spread, and student populations. students, parents, and community; After consulting with each selected n Communications campaign highlighting school and developing a customized stra- success stories of the schools’ progress tegic plan, PCAH and its partners provide and achievements; and each school with the arts education n An educational evaluation of the services, resources, and materials they effects of arts learning on whole most need to engage their community, school turnaround. raise the visibility of their achievements, The key to these efforts is building arts and increase the likelihood of successful education programming that is rigorous, school turnaround. effective, and integrated into the school.
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Students at Turnaround n Arts schools are encouraged to engage and express themselves through curriculum that focuses on the arts—such as dance.
RESULTS turn around the school. Andrew Bott The schools selected to be in the pro- was the sixth principal in seven years gram have completed one of the two and began his tenure three years ago years in this pilot. While full program with a commitment to take drastic evaluation is currently being conducted measures to turn around his school. by an evaluation team including Booz “It made the most sense to just go Allen Hamilton and the University of big and go bold…if we were going to Chicago, it is clear from anecdotal evi- undergo a transformation, it made the dence that the initiative has impacted most sense to tackle it altogether,” Bott principals, teachers, students, and the stated in an interview with the BBC. entire school culture. Bott began by firing 80 percent of his teachers—state and federal law EMBOLDENED PRINCIPALS required him to replace at least 50 Orchard Gardens K–8 Pilot School in Roxbury, MA percent. Bott chose to go well above was struggling: 90 percent of students that minimum so that he could bring in qualify for free or reduced-priced teachers excited by his new vision. He lunches; about half of students are offered extensive professional develop- learning English as a second language; ment to the new and remaining teachers, 20 percent of students are classified as and extended his school day to allow special needs; and the school was in the more time for tutoring and study of bottom 5 percent of test scores across additional subjects. the state. As part of the bottom 5 per- And then Bott decided to try cent, Orchard Gardens was required by something that has become the arts federal law to take drastic measures to education story heard around the world—
10 | ARTS LINK | FALL/WINTER 2013 The Source for Arts Professionals In the Know he fired the security guards at Orchard Gardens QUICK LOOK and instead hired arts teachers. “The school definitely had a prison feel,”Bott told NBC. He felt that it wasn’t worth the Turnaround Arts $250,000 a year to have six security 4 Turnaround Arts is built on the belief guards chasing around kids who that the following eight core assets must were misbehaving. be in place in order to affect change. And if there is one thing that we It truly takes a village! have learned from Hollywood (from the 1 Principal who is an advocate for the arts program, both internally likes of Lean on Me and Dangerous Minds) and externally, and drives its about turning around schools, it is that integration with larger school-wide if you treat kids like criminals, they act problem solving. like criminals. A video produced by the 2 Arts Specialists on staff providing BBC shows a beautiful campus, full of sequential, standards-based instruction during the school day students who are engaged and learn- on a frequent and regular basis. ing. The hallways are full of murals, and 3 Classroom Teachers (non-arts) sounds of music drift from the band integrating arts into other room. Violence in the school has been core content instruction and collaborating and cross-planning drastically reduced and test scores have with arts educators. increased. Students at Orchard Gardens 4 Teaching Artists from the community have among the most improved scores in working regularly with students math and reading in the entire state, all and teaching staff to enrich and the while getting between three to seven enhance learning. hours of high quality arts instruction per 5 Parents, Community Members, and School District Officials who are week. “Kids are going to do well in school supportive of, involved in, and when you design and build a school that engaged with the arts at the school.
kids want to be in,” Bott told HuffPost 6 Strategic Arts Planning on an Live reporter Alicia Menendez. ongoing basis that includes an arts plan, shared leadership, a communications strategy, ENGAGED STUDENTS assessment, and analysis of It is just another normal day at Savoy how to use the school’s arts Elementary in Washington, DC. Students enter education resources to address larger school issues. the cafeteria for their morning assembly 7 Professional Development in the and are led through a series of songs arts and arts integration as a and movements—promises and affirma- regularly scheduled activity.
tions. Students chant about respecting 8 School Environment that celebrates one another and working hard. The creativity and artistic achievement school’s cafeteria is painted in bright through performances and exhibitions by students, and includes bold orange, green, and red. Students the physical spaces, materials, and used to walk in with their heads down equipment necessary for quality and not make eye contact, but not learning experiences to take place. anymore. The school’s Chief Creativity
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Turnaround Arts n partners, Crayola and the National Association of Music Merchants, provide art supplies, musical instruments, and professional development to schools.
Officer swears these morning sessions passions, to express themselves, and to have boosted morale and led to a sharp feel successful. And speaking from her decrease in office referrals. personal experience, it is the arts that The students sing a rousing chorus can empower many students to believe in of “This Little Light of Mine,” led by themselves, which then can translate into Kerry Washington. Ms. Washington academic success. “I want to make sure joins the students, not as a celebrity on that we don’t miss out on the next great the sidelines, but as an integral member physicist because that student never was of the school team. Over the last year, taught to unlock their own love of learn- she’s been to the school four times and ing,” she said in an interview with the gotten to know many of the teachers National Endowment for the Arts. and students. Ms. Washington reminds Principal Patrick Pope explains the teachers and leaders at the school the myriad of opportunities available of the significance of the opportunities to his students. Over the past year, brought by participation in the arts. he has doubled the amount of time Ms. Washington points out that often that students spend in arts courses schools in high-poverty communities through hiring more arts teachers, as don’t have the same opportunities as well as forging partnerships with vari- other schools, even if they are stan- ous community partners, such as the dard for students across town in more Washington Performing Arts Society. He affluent neighborhoods. She reminds showcases a few of the programs with a everyone that all students deserve the tour of the school. It starts with dance opportunity to explore and pursue their lessons taught by a Kennedy Center
12 | ARTS LINK | FALL/WINTER 2013 The Source for Arts Professionals In the Know All Turnaround Artists n are involved mentors. Emmy-nominated actress Kerry Washington performs with students at Savoy Elementary in Washington, DC. TURNAROUND ARTS
IMPROVED SCHOOL CLIMATE As part of school reform efforts in Denver, one school reorganized as Noel Community Arts School, which is one of the reasons it was a good fit for the Turnaround Arts program. Administrators hoped the reorganization of the school would address a problem that has seemed intractable for low performing schools, which is improving the school culture and climate. Program Director of Turnaround Arts Kathy Fletcher told Denver’s public radio local affiliate KUVO, “When you walk into a Turnaround Arts school, it just feels different. There’s a lot of joy in the hallways; people are engaged; family members and community President’s Committee teaching artist and then on to watch members are coming into the school n on the Arts and the kindergarteners singing recitatives. Led for performances.” Humanities Honorary Chair, First Lady by their classroom teacher with another Principal Stacy Miller said that after Michelle Obama, Kennedy Center teaching artist, they the first year of the program, she felt embraces students are busy turning a book into an opera. a shift in the community, as the par- during a visit at Savoy Elementary in All of these opportunities have changed ents showed more and more pride in Washington, DC. how students behave and interact with their children and their school’s artistic their teachers (attendance is up, behav- achievements. At the first performance ior problems down) and their academic last year, there was standing room only, performance. After years of decline, and parents were moved to tears. Last Savoy’s state scores have gone up for May, the school held a “Think Show” the last two years. (also standing room only) where stu- The tour ends with the Savoy Players, dents used creativity and the arts to a student group of talented performers describe their thinking and what they who get professional-level coaching in had learned in their academic classes. singing and dancing. The Savoy Play- In August 2013, the school moved ers have been invited to perform at the to a new location, and the community White House, among many other oppor- gathered to renovate the new space just tunities. The Players’ parents attend in time for the new school year. Alfre rehearsals, and during this particular Woodard came to Denver to assist with visit, Ms. Washington meets privately the school makeover and welcome the with the parents to offer advice on pur- students back to school. The school suing the arts as a career path for these partnered with a local artist, JOLT, for talented students. the creation of murals that would set
14 | ARTS LINK | FALL/WINTER 2013 The Source for Arts Professionals In the Know the right atmosphere for the school. and interesting teachers and engaged As Fletcher puts it, “It just helps teachers. And it’s that which would lead students want to come to school.” to [increased] test scores.” Principal Miller is grateful for the move While the next steps in the evolution to the Montbello High School campus, of Turnaround Arts are still being which will provide larger venues for discussed, what is clear is the dramatic performances and shows and will and profound advantage in student allow more parents and community engagement, academic achievement, members to be involved. and school morale that the arts bring Alfre Woodard described her to struggling schools. The arts provide involvement with Noel Community tools that leaders in these schools Arts to KUVO as more than just an keenly need—tools to engage students actress teaching drama, but also as a and parents, encourage collaboration mentor and elder who is there as a role between teachers, and change the way model—someone who cares about the the halls and classrooms feel. There students and expects them to suc- is a lesson here that can be valuable ceed. “What we’re trying to do with for school leaders everywhere—think the Turnaround Arts Initiative…we are outside of the box in terms of what expanding the students’ minds and options are available to help turn around horizons; we are unfolding citizens; we a school that needs it. The answer may are helping to create innovators. And be hiding in plain sight. And playing that is something that has made us the trumpet. strong as an American culture. Once you
wiped out the arts in the public school system 20 or 30 years ago, that’s when the schools started to fail. We’re trying QUICK LOOK to help people see that correlation.” Student Voices CONCLUSION in the Arts Turnaround Arts provides extensive resources for schools most in need 4 Turnaround Arts wants to feature more of an intervention. Ellen Winner, the written reflections and student art work that communicates individual stories of chair of psychology at Boston College how the arts have impacted their lives. and co-author of the book Studio Select pieces will be featured on Thinking: The Real Benefits of Visual the Turnaround Arts website http:// turnaroundarts.pcah.gov/ and Facebook Arts Education, believes that while page facebook.com/TurnaroundArts, as research cannot prove arts programs well as used in an ongoing way to include are the direct cause of increased test student perspectives in making the case for arts education as a turnaround tool. scores, there is a high correlation. The expression could be through any art “The most plausible hypothesis in my form, including creative writing. Please send mind,” she says, “would be that the arts submissions to [email protected]. lead to engagement and attendance
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