Dear Mr. Anger,
I am writing on behalf of Americans for the Arts with a feature idea that I am sure will interest your readers. Specifically our story will help parents determine whether or not their children’s schools are depriving them of a proper education. Next year our public schools will be required under the No Child Left Behind Act to test every student in verbal and math proficiency. Americans for the Arts can help them outperform their peers in other states - but only with the assistance of parents and government officials.

The Problem
On Jan. 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act into effect. It listed nine areas of “core subjects” our nation’s children should be learning in public schools. However it only tests children on two, math and reading. In order to boost scores (and thus federal aid) many schools are pouring budgets into these disciplines. This leaves art with a small budget – especially because nowhere in the No Child Left Behind Act does it define what “the arts” means. School boards are then left to discern the extent of the meaning – and funding – of the programs, oftentimes with disastrous effects.

In 2001, a survey was taken of high school students who completed the SAT assessment test. The results were startling. Those who reported being involved in music appreciation classes scored an average of 63 points higher on the verbal sections of their SATs and 44 points higher on their math sections. This statistic was true independent of age, gender or race. By cutting funds for the arts in order to boost math and reading skills, officials are in reality lowering test scores – and more importantly knowledge – in all three areas.

The Solution
School boards cannot know that the public supports arts education unless the public makes their voices heard. Support for arts education is widely valued – 89 percent of all households think it is a good idea . Parents just need to become actively involved in their children’s education by attending school board meetings and making their opinions known.

The Result
Enhancing arts education in schools does not merely help children improve their test grades.
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Arts education keeps inner city kids off the streets and increases test scores, academic excellence, cognitive reasoning ability and social skills.

It also helps keep Iowans employed. As of the beginning of this fiscal year, 24,153 residents were employed in the 4,135 arts-related businesses in Iowa. Without the continuing support of Iowa’s youth, many of these companies will no longer exist.

I hope you will consider pursuing the idea of arts education. I would be happy to arrange an interview for you with a representative from Americans for the Arts. Please feel free to contact me at aparrott@butler.edu at any time. In the meanwhile, you might find it interesting to visit www.artsusa.org to find out more about arts education in the United States.
Americans for the arts is a not for profit company devoted to providing an adequate arts education for every child, raising money for the arts and fostering community development through the arts.