Celebrating National Arts in Education Week
Adopted at the 86th Annual Meeting in 2018
WHEREAS, the Congressional Resolution and subsequent legislation in Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, states that arts education and its rich array of disciplines "including, but not limited to dance, design, literature, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, and writing" are considered well-rounded subjects and an essential element of a complete and balance education for all students; and
WHEREAS, arts education enables students to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, imagination and creativity, discipline and collaboration, alternative ways to communicate and express feelings and ideas, and cross-cultural understanding, which supports academic success across the curriculum as well as personal growth outside the classroom; and
WHEREAS students who receive an arts education score on average 100 points higher on their SATs across all social economic classes, four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, three times more likely to win an award for school attendance, four times more likely to participate in a math and science fair, and more than twice as likely to graduate college; and
WHEREAS, students of low socio-economic status who have low arts engagement rates drop out of school at a rate of 22%, but their peers who are highly engaged in the arts, have a dropout rate of only 4%; and
WHEREAS, according to the Conference Board, creativity and innovation are two of the top skills that business leaders demand, but often are traits that they cannot adequately find in potential employee; and
WHEREAS, the integration of the arts and design, broadly defined, into federal STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programming, research, and innovation activities, known as STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), is an effective approach to increasing student's engagement in the STEM Fields and thus maintaining the United States' competitiveness in both workforce and innovation; and
WHEREAS, according to national public opinion polling, 89% of Americans believe the arts are a part of a well-rounded education for students, and that same nine out of every ten Americans believes it is essential in elementary, middle, and high school as well as in the out of school time; and
WHEREAS arts are integral to the lives of United States citizens and essential to the health and vitality of communities of the nations; and
WHEREAS, the Congressional Resolution calls on governors, mayors, and other elected officials from across the United States to issue proclamations to raise awareness of the value and importance of arts in education; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Education, National Endowment for the Arts, Americans for the Arts, the Arts Education Partnership, and thousands of schools and arts organizations across the country recognize and celebrate National Arts in Education Week on an annual basis; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors reaffirms the importance of the arts as an essential part of a complete and well-rounded education; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors encourages member cities to promote National Arts in Education Week (September 9-15, 2018) by working with their local school board, local arts agencies and designated groups of educators, students, and parents;