Federal grant supports arts-integrated program in Oregon

The Beaverton School District in Oregon, in partnership with Young Audiences, Inc., Young Audiences Arts for Learning of Oregon/SW Washington, the University of Washington and WestEd received a $4 million federal Investing in Innovation (i3) development grant for the Arts for Learning Lessons (A4L) Project.

Of the 1,700 grant applications submitted nationwide, only 49 were selected to receive funding. Of the 49 highest ranking applications, only three projects listed a dedicated arts focus.

The A4L Project was developed by Young Audiences and is an academic program that integrates standards-focused, text-based content and arts strategies to improve student achievement in literacy learning and life skills. The project will serve all 3-5 grade students in the Beaverton School District over five years, with a particular emphasis on high needs students, i.e. English Language Learners, students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged, and ethnic/racial minority students.  In all, nearly 13,000 students will be served by this 5 year project.

The Investing in Innovation Fund, established under section 14007 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), provides funding to support (1) local educational agencies (LEAs), and (2) nonprofit organizations in partnership with (a) one or more LEAs or (b) a consortium of schools.  The purpose of this program is to provide competitive grants to applicants with a record of improving student achievement and attainment in order to expand the implementation of, and investment in, innovative practices that are demonstrated to have an impact on improving student achievement or student growth, closing achievement gaps, decreasing dropout rates, increasing high school graduation rates, or increasing college enrollment and completion rates.

Gail Hayes Davis, Executive Director of Young Audiences Arts for Learning of Oregon/SW Washington, had this to say about the award:  “We recognize the importance of integrating the arts into the curriculum and we do this through the Arts for Learning Lessons program. This grant is an extraordinary endorsement of that work and the Beaverton School District’s commitment to the arts. In addition to increasing academic performance, the arts motivates students to become innovative and creative thinkers, increases learning for all students, and develops a sense of craftsmanship, goal setting, collaboration and focus…which increases self esteem and skills needed to succeed in school and beyond.”

This particular project will put Arts for Learning Lessons “to the test” for the first time when it comes to improving students’ scores on standardized tests.  Depending on the results, this project could actually help secure a permanent place for the arts in schools by demonstrating how music, dance, visual arts and theatre can improve test scores.

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